BENGALS Newcomers on defense help regain ground

The upstart Bengals defense will be tested over the next three weeks.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Bengals' defense spent the first two months of the season getting younger. Finally, it's starting to get better.
An injury-ravaged defense has more than held its own during back-to-back wins, pulling the Bengals (4-5) back from the brink. Three rookie draft picks started in a 17-10 victory in Washington that got the Bengals moving in the right direction.
"We've got a lot of young guys at key positions," defensive lineman John Thornton said Monday. "That's what hurt us early. Now we're starting to play better as a team, but it's a week-to-week deal."
That's a major improvement from the weak deal in the first seven games.
Injuries hit every part of the defense. Middle linebacker Nate Webster and defensive lineman Tony Williams are out for the season with injuries, and the secondary has been repeatedly scrambled because of injuries.
As a result, the Bengals had the league's softest run defense and ranked in the bottom half in most statistical categories during a 2-5 start.
Veterans tried to do too much to cover for the youngsters, who were just trying to figure things out. It was a poor mix.
Things got a lot better in the last two games against struggling quarterbacks. The Cowboys' Vinny Testaverde threw three interceptions and fumbled in the Bengals' 26-3 victory, and Mark Brunell was benched during another abysmal performance in Washington on Sunday.
Breaking the pattern
In the past, the Bengals could be counted on to revive a struggling quarterback's career. The newcomers have helped them break the pattern.
"Right now, the young guys are progressing well," coach Marvin Lewis said. "They're playing a big part in what we're doing now, and they keep growing.
"We kind of made the transition through those murky waters, and we're coming out of it a little bit."
Brunell was only 1-of-8 with an interception before being replaced by Patrick Ramsey, who was 18-of-37 for 210 yards with two interceptions against a defense featuring rookies Landon Johnson at middle linebacker, Robert Geathers on the line and Madieu Williams starting at safety.
The next three weeks will decide matters. Cincinnati has home games against Pittsburgh and Cleveland, followed by a trip to Baltimore. They'll know by then if it's time to start thinking about next year.
Much of it will come down to the young-but-improving defense, which knows it will get tested much more than it has in the past two games.