By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Bengals will try to stop Carolina's Dee Brown today. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Eight times in 12 games this season, the Bengals have allowed 134 or more rushing yards.

The team's average rushing yardage allowed is 140 and it's league rank is 30th. The loss of space-eating tackle Oliver Gibson to injury has hurt, but the past four games have been the worst stretch this season.

Offenses have run for 162, 140, 156 and 148 yards against the Bengals. And the Carolina Panthers will want to continue the trend today with second-year running back Dee Brown.

Brown ran for 122 yards on 27 attempts in his first NFL start, last week at Cleveland. He is playing for Lamar Smith, who was given a leave of absence following a DUI arrest Nov. 28. Brown had 119 rushing yards in his previous 11 games.

Overall, the Panthers rank 17th in rushing offense at 106.8 yards per game.

Carolina at times will use rookie quarterback Randy Fasani as a change-of-pace runner in place of starter Rodney Peete.

Standing in the way will be defensive tackle Tony Williams, the Bengals' most consistent defensive lineman. Glen Steele has played well in Gibson's place, but the pressure is on Williams to clog the middle.

Offenses are having most of their success running between the tackles against Cincinnati. Williams, who leads the Bengals with five sacks, needs to be stout against the run.

Carolina will try to control the ball and play a field-position game against the Bengals. The best way to thwart that plan is to stuff the run and force the pass.

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