By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Two themes have emerged for the Bengals this season.

Every week, the Bengals face major challenges in stopping their opponent's running game and not making special-teams mistakes. At 1-13, they haven't been too successful on either front.

Those tasks are even more difficult today against New Orleans. The Saints, the NFL's second-highest scoring team in the NFL at 29.5 points a game, have a Pro Bowl running back in Deuce McAllister and a Pro Bowl kick returner in Michael Lewis.

HAPPY RETURNS

Lewis is a player football fans love to cheer. He's a New Orleans native who made the hometown team at age 29.

He drove a beer truck to support his family. He played for the Louisiana Bayou Beast of the Indoor Professional Football League and the New Jersey Red Dogs of the Arena Football League before getting his chance with the Saints.

Even last season, the Saints waived Lewis twice and brought him back twice. Good for them.

This season, Lewis has a 12.7-yard average (second in the NFC) on 35 punt returns and an 83-yard touchdown.

One of his two kickoff returns for a touchdown came in the same game as his scoring punt return, Oct. 13 at Washington. He went 90 yards with a kickoff for a touchdown against the Redskins. Last week against Minnesota, Lewis had a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

His 26-yard kickoff return average is fourth in the NFC.

"Great speed, a guy that's still learning how to play the game, a love for the game," Saints coach Jim Haslett said when asked about Lewis. "We cut him twice last year and brought him back, put him on the practice squad. I thought he did a great job in the offseason working and preparing and getting stronger. That's the reason he's here."

Lewis should scare the Bengals, who have allowed three punt returns for touchdowns and a 15.9-yard average - second worst in the NFL.

In the Saints' 31-23 preseason victory Aug. 24 at Paul Brown Stadium, Lewis had an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown.

WHAT A RUSH

McAllister assumed the job of featured back when Ricky Williams was traded to Miami. Williams' success, with more than 1,500 rushing yards, earned the Saints the Dolphins' 2003 first-round draft pick.

McAllister has made his own mark in New Orleans, rushing for 1,245 yards (seven 100-yard games) and 13 touchdowns.

In the preseason game in Cincinnati, McAllister scored on a 16-yard pass and a 1-yard run. He also had 84 rushing yards.

The Bengals' rush defense is coming off two of its better performances. It allowed 109 yards on 30 carries against Jacksonville and just 82 yards at Carolina.

Credit goes to linemen Glen Steele and Bernard Whittington for their disciplined play in place of injured starters Oliver Gibson and Vaughn Booker.

TRENCH WARFARE

The Bengals' offensive tackles are playing well. The penetration against the running game and pass plays has been up the middle.

Bengals coach Dick LeBeau pulled right guard Mike Goff in favor of Scott Rehberg last week. They and center Rich Braham and left guard Matt O'Dwyer will have their hands full today with aggressive New Orleans defensive tackles Norman Hand and Grady Jackson. Jackson has 48 tackles, Hand 40.

Those two tackles, weighing a combined 640 pounds, create problems when they're on the field.

"I've played against their two defensive tackles," said Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna, who will look to control the ball with a possession passing offense. "I played against those guys in Seattle, and one of the happiest days of my life was when Norman Hand signed with New Orleans, leaving San Diego my last year in Seattle. These guys are really good."

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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