CHARLOTTE – The first two weeks of the season, the Bengals defense surrendered third-down conversions, left receivers wide open and saw too many drives move down the field with ease.
Yet, thanks to critical turnovers and two gritty victories, much of the cloud of concern over the group gave way the undefeated rays of sunlight.
Then, 230 yards on the ground and 46 percent third-down conversion percentage from Cam Newton and company and the storm clouds around this group can be seen from space.
And the rest of the league is watching.
“I think they did some things creative and we just didn’t stop the run on our part,” said safety Shawn Williams, who saw a missed tackle lead to a 45-yard burst from Christian McCaffery.