With their franchise heading into December trying to secure its third AFC North title and sixth playoff spot in seven seasons, the Bengals defense is flexing its muscles at just the right time:
_After the stingiest streak in club history, they are once again the NFL’s top scoring defense in the wake of holding a team to 10 points or fewer four times in the last five games.
_Their best player, Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins, is back to such a high level that just like 2012 it is not out of question for a run at Defensive Player of the Year votes with a dynamic that makes the Bengals front one of the elite.