By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Bengals are ranked 23rd in rush defense. It's not a statistical aberration.

The run defense has been that bad. The Bengals will face another challenge Sunday in Houston rookie tailback Domanick Davis.

Only a bruised pectoral muscle and ribs last week prevented Davis from becoming the first player in NFL history to rush for 100 yards in his first three starts.

A fourth-round pick from LSU, Davis finished with 74 yards on 12 carries before being injured early in the fourth quarter. He has 483 yards on 99 carries (4.9-yard average) and 30 pass receptions.

The Bengals are giving up 125.9 rushing yards a game and were hit for 161 at Arizona. Their inability to stop the run helped the Cardinals convert eight of 16 third-down plays.

"At some point, you've got to stand up and say, 'I'm going to get after this. I'm going to do this. I'm tired of getting pushed around,' " coach Marvin Lewis said of the defense. "Yards don't matter, but the yards we're giving up are substantial in the game, because they're changing field position."

TURNOVER BATTLE: As improving yet developing teams, both the Bengals and Texans have little margin for error when they play. And that means turnovers.

Historically, the team that wins the turnover battle has won the game.

The Bengals are plus-3 through eight games. In their three victories, they have nine takeaways and have committed no giveaways. They are minus-6 in the five losses.

The Texans have won seven games in two seasons. They've won the turnover battle in six of those victories. They're 1-13 when committing more turnovers.

JUST PLAY: Lewis and his players are asking fans to pack Paul Brown Stadium. Memo to Bengals: Save your breath for Sunday. If you want people to show up, win. Whatever it takes, win. A 6-10 record is not acceptable. Neither is being close. Those are traits of what you refer to as the "Old Bengals." Win. Don't just say you're different than previous Bengals teams. Prove it. Then people will show up and provide the home-field advantage. This city and your fans want to embrace you.

The Bengals, surprisingly, have an international fan base. Guess the whole world loves an underdog. Even more surprising might be that the Bengals have about 37,000 season-ticket holders.

Lewis learned this week that they simply cannot erase the previous 12 years. Starting from scratch might be an effective coaching technique with players, but it's a terrible PR move.

Given the sub-standard product the organization has put on the field for the previous 12 non-playoff seasons, it's still more surprising that the Bengals' fan base isn't akin to that of Arizona's. Just win.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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