DaytonDailyNews.com

CINCINNATI — It's bound to happen one of these days.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will drop back and unleash a perfect spiral to wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco, who will streak into the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown.

It's just that it hasn't happened so far this season for the Bengals.

Their longest pass play is 36 yards — a dump-off pass from Carson Palmer to DeDe Dorsey on the final play of the first half in a Week 2 loss to Tennessee. Wide receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh (61) and Ocho Cinco (37) have combined for 98 receptions, but the longest play is Houshmandzadeh's 26-yarder.

The Bengals make the deep passing game seem like rocket science. It's a point of emphasis this week as the Bengals prepare for the visiting Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 16.

"Hopefully, this is the week," Fitzpatrick said. "We've got to hit some eventually."

It's not easy

"There are a lot of things that go into it," Fitzpatrick said about goin' deep. "It's getting the right defense for the pass play you call. It's timing with the receiver and the quarterback. It's the receiver beating the defensive backs. It's the quarterback making the proper throw with the proper air to let the guy run underneath it. It's having the protection up front.

"Sometimes, it's a receiver making a move and getting a nice run after the catch or breaking a tackle. There are different ways to do it, but something we've obviously struggled with this year. The more I work with these guys, the more I'll learn their strengths, their speeds and be able to get them the ball better."

Eyes on Westbrook

Eagles tailback Brian Westbrook is public enemy No. 1 for the Bengals.

The 5-foot-10, 203-pounder has 109 carries for 448 (a 4.1 average) and six touchdowns. He also has 29 catches for 207 yards (7.1) and two TDs.

How do you contain him?

"Cover him," Bengals middle linebacker Dhani Jones said. "He's an explosive weapon. He's able to do pretty much anything he wants to do. He's poised to make a lot of big plays."

Memorable game

Who can forget Dec. 24, 1994 — the Eagles' most recent trip into Cincinnati?

The Bengals scored twice in the final three seconds to go from 30-27 losers to 33-30 winners.

Doug Pelfrey's 22-yard field goal at with 3 seconds left tied the score. Philadelphia muffed a squib kickoff that Adrian Hardy recovered at the Eagles' 37 with one second on the clock. Pelfrey's career-long 54-yard field goal won it.

Injury report

Palmer (right elbow) is out, and tailback Cedric Benson (back) was among six others who didn't practice on Thursday because of injuries.

He was joined by wide receivers Andre Caldwell (foot) and Jerome Simpson (ankle), defensive end Antwan Odom (shoulder), strong safety Chinedum Ndukwe (foot) and linebacker Eric Henderson (neck).

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com