By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Other than fourth-quarter possessions near the goal line, the Bengals' offense has been close to unstoppable in the past six weeks. Today, the Bengals face the most formidable defense they have seen since Tampa Bay shut out their offense Sept. 29.

The Bengals' only points in a 35-7 loss to the Buccaneers came on linebacker Brian Simmons' interception return for a touchdown.

Under first-year head coach John Fox, the Carolina Panthers have the league's sixth-ranked defense at 295.3 yards per game.

Something's got to give today, and the Bengals are in trouble if it's their offense.

The Bengals' 381 yards in net offense last week against Baltimore marked the sixth consecutive week they've gone over 350. It's the longest such streak since 1986, when that Bengals offense went over 350 in 10 consecutive games en route to a 10-6 record.

The 2002 Bengals are 1-11, and most of the blame rests with the defense and special teams.

The big reason for the six-game outburst is quarterback Jon Kitna, who has thrown for 1,592 yards, 12 touchdowns and just four interceptions in that span.

The Bengals are averaging 25.5 points per game in those games.

"This year, I'm really not doing a whole lot differently (than last year)," Kitna said. "Guys around me are playing better. It's not me. It's them."

Carolina will be without rookie defensive end Julius Peppers, who had 12 sacks before beginning his suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Still, the Panthers' defense is good. Carolina is in the top five of league rankings in total yards per play, passing yards per game, sacks per pass play and third-down efficiency.

NO TURNOVERS: In their four victories, the Panthers are plus-10 in turnover differential. In their eight losses, it's minus-15.

Quarterback Rodney Peete has started 10 games for the Panthers, and they are 4-6 in his starts. In his four victories, Peete has four touchdowns and three interceptions. In his six losses, he has five touchdown passes and eight interceptions.

Although the Bengals have one victory, they are more competitive when limiting turnovers.

In the first six games, a stretch in which the Bengals were competitive just once, they were minus-10 in turnover differential.

In the past six, a run in which they've won one game and lost in double-digits just once, they are a more respectable minus-3 in turnover differential.

Bengals turnovers today have potential to hurt more than usual. They would shorten the field for a Carolina offense that is ranked 31st at just 268.5 yards per game.

NOT SO SPECIAL: There are people in the Bengals' organization who blame the special teams for the past three losses.

They point to T.J. Houshmanzadeh's fumbled punt returns against Cleveland and at Pittsburgh, and the block of a Nick Harris punt that Baltimore returned for a touchdown last week.

The Bengals' special teams, in spite of the blame, have improved, and they will play a pivotal role today against the Panthers. Carolina depends on punter Todd Sauerbrun for field position, and he usually doesn't let them down.

Sauerbrun leads the league with a 46.9-yard average and a net of 39.5. Harris has a net of 31.8 yards, so the Panthers figure to gain if the game is a battle of punts.

Bengals coach Dick LeBeau has a no-nonsense answer for how to handle the Carolina punting team: Catch the punt, block the coverage team, gain positive yards on the return and protect the ball.

Good plan. The Bengals had better follow it.E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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