By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The 49ers are where the Bengals used to be in the kicking game - there are no sure things.

San Francisco is using its third kicker this season in Todd Peterson. The Bengals have found Mr. Automatic in Shayne Graham, who is 19-for-21 on field goals and perfect on 32 extra points. Graham leads the team with 89 points through 13 games - the most scored by a Bengals player in an entire season since kicker Doug Pelfrey had 110 points in 1996.

In what looks to be a close game - the Bengals are favored by 2 1/2 as the home team - the result could come down to a missed or made kick. The 49ers' trio of kickers - Jeff Chandler and Owen Pochman are the others - are a combined 21-of-31.

Keep this in mind, too: The 49ers have botched five extra points this year. No other team in the league has missed more than one. Officially, the 49ers are 29-of-32 on PAT kicks, but they missed two others. Holder Bill LaFleur twice dropped snaps, but he managed to rush off passes, making them missed two-point attempts.

HOLD THAT LINE: All eyes will be on Bengals left tackle Scott Rehberg in his battle against 49ers right end Andre Carter, who comes in with a team-high 5.5 sacks.

Rehberg, subbing for the injured Levi Jones, struggled at Baltimore - as did the rest of the Bengals offensive line. The Ravens had six sacks, forced quarterback Jon Kitna to lose two of three fumbles and hurried him into two interceptions.

The Bengals have been at their best this season when the offense maintains a hefty edge in possession time. The Bengals defense is best kept off the field - especially today against a well-balanced, explosive 49ers offense.

DON'T DROP IT: The Bengals lost five turnovers at Baltimore, dropping them to plus-2 in turnover differential for the season.

The Bengals, as an improving team, have little margin for error. Nowhere is this more true than in turnovers.

In their six losses, the Bengals have lost 16 turnovers. In their seven victories, they've had just two giveaways - one interception and one lost fumble. Kitna has 18 touchdown passes and one interception in the seven victories.

The 49ers are second in the league at plus-11 in turnover differential. They have interceptions in nine consecutive games. Strong safety Tony Parrish has picked off a pass in five straight games and leads the team with seven.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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