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Bengal Morning Takes: 'Can't give up 27'


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Bengal Morning Takes: 'Can't give up 27'
October, 20, 2014
Oct 20
8:00
AM ET
By Coley Harvey | ESPN.com

 

CINCINNATI -- It was Carlos Dunlap's most commonly used phrase after the Cincinnati Bengals' 27-0 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

"We can't give up 27 points."
 

Asked about the loss and where the Bengals -- winless in three straight -- go from here, the fifth-year defensive end finished several responses with the refrain.

Here's an example.

Asked about how injuries, like those to linebackers Vontaze Burfict, Emmanuel Lamur and Rey Maualuga, and cornerback Leon Hall affected how well the defense could operate Sunday, Dunlap said: "You could probably say that contributed to some of the plays, but either way, we still can't give up 27 points."

That was the appropriate response, but Dunlap and the Bengals' defense would be best served not to overthink the 27 points this week. As cliche as it may sound, they have to focus on this Sunday's division game against the Ravens. Baltimore right now is 5-2 and atop the AFC North, even if the Bengals hold the only undefeated mark in division play. The Bengals have played one AFC North game, a Week 1 win against the Ravens.

As the Bengals try to move on as if these past three weeks were an aberration, their defense has to focus on getting back to its old style of play, regardless of the injuries. They know they can't let doubt creep in and convince themselves that these past three weeks are who they really are.

"Everybody can play. They're here for a reason," veteran cornerback Terence Newman said. "You have to look at that first and foremost. You're here for a reason. God gave you the talent and the coaches see the talent. You have to go out and play with it. You have to have trust in yourself. If you lose confidence, it's going to be hard to do what you can do out there. We've just got to get our confidence back and go out and just play."

Part of the reason Dunlap was so bugged by the 27 points is because for a third straight game the defense has allowed three or more touchdowns, and continues to have trouble shaking concerns about its lack of post-bye success. Before the Week 4 break, the Bengals looked strong on both sides of the ball, especially on defense.

First-year defensive coordinator Paul Guenther had called timely blitzes through the first three games and had his players playing with the "smart bully" mantra they hoped to carry throughout the regular season and into the playoffs. Guenther's defense was allowing an average of 11 points through the first three games; best in the NFL at that point.

Then came New England in Week 5.

Since then, the Bengals have allowed 43, 37 and 27 points, respectively. Their offense struggled in two of those games, and Sunday, those struggles impacted the defense. Cincinnati's inability to extend drives put its defense on the field for nearly 40 minutes. Despite forcing two first-half turnovers and keeping the game within 10 points at halftime, the battered defense ran out of steam in the second half.

While the defense doesn't want to give up 27, it's on the entire team to block out point totals and other statistics this week and simply get back to playing football, and playing it well.

 

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/12405/bengals-carlos-dunlap-defense-cant-give-up-27-morning-takes

 

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