Cincinnati Bengals: Keys to second half, midseason report cards

Cincinnati Bengals

Record: 8-0, first in AFC North

Remaining games:

Week 10 Mon, Nov 16 vs Houston (MNF)

Week 11 Sun, Nov 22 @ Arizona (SNF)

Week 12 Sun, Nov 29 vs St. Louis

Week 13 Sun, Dec 6 @ Cleveland

Week 14 Sun, Dec 13 vs Pittsburgh

Week 15 Sun, Dec 20 @ San Francisco (SNF)

Week 16 Mon, Dec 28 @ Denver (MNF)

Week 17 Sun, Jan 3 vs Baltimore

KEYS TO SECOND-HALF SUCCESS:

The Bengals were almost injury-free during the first half of the season, a virtual impossibility in the NFL. Injuries are bound to occur at some point, and when they do will it impact a key player? A position which lacks depth? Remains to be seen.

At the moment, Cincinnati is 8-0 and controls its own destiny in the AFC North. The Bengals now can focus on securing home-field advantage and earning a coveted first-round bye in the playoffs.

While some keep waiting for the shine to come off quarterback Andy Dalton, there are no signs that will happen. Dalton has passed for more than 2,200 yards with 18 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

But while coordinator Hue Jackson's offense is humming behind Dalton, tight end Tyler Eifert, receiver A.J. Green among others, there are concerns about an inconsistent running game and a defense which gets after the quarterback but gives up yards in chunks between the 20s.

KEY PLAYER FOR SECOND HALF: Tight end Tyler Eifert.

Eifert missed all of last season due to an elbow injury. In his first eight weeks back, the former University of Notre Dame star has overtaken the NFL lead among tight ends with nine TD catches to go along with 434 receiving yards. Eifert's ability to make tough catches in traffic has made him one of quarterback Andy Dalton's top targets, especially in the red zone.

MVP IN FIRST HALF: Quarterback Andy Dalton.

Who else, but the oft-maligned Dalton, who is enjoying the best season of his career. The fifth-year quarterback is excelling in coordinator Hue Jackson's offense now that tight end Tyler Eifert, and receivers A.J. Green and Marvin Jones are back healthy. Dalton has passed for 2,226 yards and 18 TDs with only four picks. His 111.0 first-half rating ranks behind only the Patriots' Tom Brady. Dalton has emerged as a leader on the sideline and a shrewd signal-caller who now has Jackson's trust to routinely change plays at the line of scrimmage.

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE IN FIRST HALF: Offensive lineman Jake Fisher.

Cincinnati doesn't have a rookie starter on offense, although Fisher, out of the University of Oregon, made a name for himself not just as a dependable lineman on the depth chart but also as a receiver.

When Fisher's No. 74 is announced as eligible, fans sit up in their seats. Fisher had a 31-yard reception earlier this season and often lines up in a receiver position in some of coordinator Hue Jackson's multitude of formations.

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE IN FIRST HALF: Linebacker P. J. Dawson.

The Bengals have no rookie starts on defense. But they have a handful of first-year guys who contributed to their 8-0 start.

So the winner by default is linebacker P.J. Dawson out of TCU, who has five tackles including two solo.

BENGALS MIDSEASON REPORT CARD

--PASSING OFFENSE: A. Quarterback Andy Dalton earned the complete trust of coordinator Hue Jackson. With tight end Tyler Eifert and receivers A.J. Green and Marvin Jones healthy, Cincinnati's offense is humming. Dalton passed for more than 2,200 yards and 18 TDs with only four interceptions. Green leads the team with 702 receiving yards but tight end Tyler Eifert is the touchdowns leader with nine.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: C. The Bengals are among NFL leaders in rush attempts but near the bottom in yards gained. The running game remains an effective tool for the Bengals offense even though it isn't prominently featured. Gio Bernard rushed for 511 yards and two TDs in the first eight games. While Jeremy Hill remains somewhat of an enigma with just 344 yards and five TDs coming off a 1,000-yard season.

--PASS DEFENSE: B. The Bengals rank fifth in the NFL with 23 sacks led by defensive tackle Carlos Dunlap's 8 1/2 sacks and six by defensive end Geno Atkins. Cincinnati allows 244 passing yards per game which is middle of the pack in the league. When the pass rush is disrupting the opposing QB, it helps take pressure off an average secondary.

--RUN DEFENSE: C. Cincinnati ranks 14th in the NFL in rush defense and has allowed100 yards or more in five games including 200 in a come-from-behind win over Seattle on Oct. 11. Linebacker Vincent Rey could be key to improvement in this area. Rey is leading the team with 70 tackles through eight games.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: A. There have been games this season when the Bengals special teams has been among its most lethal weapons, most notably the 16-10 win at Pittsburgh earlier this month. Punter Kevin Huber is among the NFL's best. Kicker Mike Nugent is 11 of 14 on field goals.

--COACHING: A. Coach Marvin Lewis has managed to keep his team focused on a larger prize amid the hype of an historic 8-0 start, the first in franchise history. Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has pushed all the right buttons while developing quarterback Andy Dalton into an MVP candidate.