Cincinnati Bengals: 7 Keys to a Victory in Jacksonville

Week 5 is upon us. We have passed the season's quarter mark and are beginning to see who 2011's contenders and pretenders are.

However, there are a number of teams floating at 2-2, and history tells us that in this situation, the fifth game of the campaign becomes crucial for setting the tone for the rest of the season.

The Bengals find themselves firmly in this camp, and with division rivals Pittsburgh and Cleveland both sitting on 2-2, the Bengals are sitting prettier than many thought they would.

With a trip to Jacksonville on the cards, there are a number things the Bengals need to continue/ improve on if they want to walk away at 3-2, so let's take a look.

Interceptions from the Secondary

So far, the Bengals have only one interception to their name in 2011, coming at the hands of Michael Johnson. Despite being the league's No.1 defense heading into Sunday, the Bengals secondary has failed to come up with any picks at this stage in the season.

While the defensive ranking is a great thing to have achieved, it doesn't necessarily mean victories. With Andy Dalton starting to throw picks at a rookie-frequency, some interceptions would go a long way to giving Dalton a few more chances to put up points.

With Blaine Gabbert due to be the starter in Jacksonville going forward, there has never been a better opportunity for the Bengals secondary to come up with some game-changing picks.

If the Bengals can stop Maurice Jones-Drew in the trenches as they have done with Frank Gore, Peyton Hillis and Fred Jackson thus far, they will force Gabbert to go to the air, where he might rely a little too much on Mike Thomas, and with the Bengals pass rush in his face, his throws could be easy-pickings for Cincy backs.  

Cedric Benson Needs to Stay Focused and Unselfish

I wrote a piece earlier this week in reaction to Cedric Benson's offensive frustrations. It focused on how Benson owes so much to the Bengals for simply keeping him employed through all that has transpired this year.

If Benson wants to be effective, he needs to keep his head in the game, make the most out of the carries he is given and stop worrying about the ones that are going to Bernard Scott. 

In his 44 starts as a Cincinnati Bengal, Benson had his 15th 100-yard game last week at home against Buffalo. He rushed for over 100 yards against the Jags in 2008, but the 2011 team has yet to allow a running back to notch 100 yards on the ground.

With his verdict still in limbo, you can't blame Benson for harbouring some frustration. But I would hope that he can yet again translate this into on-the-field success this Sunday and set Andy Dalton and the offense up for some easy first downs. 

Andy Dalton Must Stay Hungry, Aggressive

During last week's lopsided performance against the Bills, in which Dalton threw more interceptions than touchdowns, it was his second-half showing that impressed not only Bengals fans but the league as a whole.

Dalton put in a gutsy second-half performance that saw him run for a touchdown, dive headfirst for a first down and rally the team on a game-winning field goal drive.

For Dalton to stay calm and cool in the face of a painful halftime score was a real affirmation of why we should have faith in the young QB. He showed himself to have the poise of a veteran and the hunger to go the extra mile and do whatever it takes to win games, despite people not really expecting him to win them.

I'm not suggesting that Sunday will play out in a similar fashion to last week, but Dalton needs to continue to put frustration aside when things aren't going his way, as will happen all too often this year.

He is showing himself to be of solid character right now, and his desire to get better each week is commendable. Long may it continue.

Mike Nugent's Leg

Mike Nugent became a hero in Cincinnati on Sunday night when he put the boot to the Buffalo Bills' three-game streak, and his leg will be called upon once again to aide the Bengals in their efforts to top the Jaguars.

Nugent is perfect in field goals in 2011, going 10-for-10 through the first four games.

With Andy Dalton and the offense still far from having a solid passing game, Nugent will likely see his number continue to be called often to finish drives that the offense can't.

His confidence is likely high following such a spectacular start to the year, and he will be tested on Sunday if reports of heavy rain in Florida persist at game-time.

Hopefully, the offense will continue to take steps in the right direction on Sunday, and Nugent will be used sparingly. With a rookie QB and a young offense, it helps to have someone like Mike Nugent in the wings to get the job done. 

Put the Breaks on MJD

Maurice Jones-Drew may well be the only legitimate threat on the Jaguars offense right now, but he sure is one hell of a threat.

MJD is averaging 97.7 yards rushing per game thus far in 2011, and he continues to live up to the fanfare that surrounds his three initials, despite his team faltering around him.

If the Bengals front seven can shutdown the running game in the early going, the rest of the defense can sweep up the Blaine Gabbert-lead passing game. 

With only Willis McGahee putting up 100 yards on the Bengals thus far in 2011, the Bengals should be ready for the prolific back.

Keep Up the Pass Rush

One of the most exciting facets of the Bengals defense has to be the pass rush. With the defensive rotation that Mike Zimmer has begun to utilise, the Bengals pass rush has looked relentless from kick-off to the games conclusion.

With youngsters Michael Johnson, Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins looking extremely dangerous, the Jaguars will have a really tough time protecting Blaine Gabbert, who is prone to hanging onto the ball a little longer than he needs to.

With so many athletic guys to rush the QB, the pressure will come from different angles all day long. This could prove tough for Jack Del Rio, as it will mean he will not be able to identify key players to stop, which could come at Gabbert's expense.

Be Prepared for Rain

As I'm sure you saw when the Jags traveled to Carolina, rain can become a significant factor when the field starts to retain water. Jacksonville's grass field will also bring mud to the party, and the implications of that wet and wild surface could be game-changing. 

With Bengals.com reporting that a deluge of Floridian rain is expected on Sunday, the Bengals will need to be ready for a real mud bath of a game.

With the Bengals not accustomed to these conditions, they will have to be prepared to hold the ball that extra bit tighter—Benson in particular—and Andy Dalton will need to make sure his throws are on the money if he wants his receivers to have a decent chance of hanging onto them.

Things like hand-offs from Dalton to Benson and snaps from Kyle Cook to the rookie QB are concerns, but I have no doubt that the wet ball is something both sides of the ball have been talking about in the build-up to this one.