Bengals still not among the elite

Until Marvin Lewis fixes the run defense, any hope of a playoff run is hollow.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Bengals learned a few things from their most telling loss in the last 15 years.
They're still in first place in the AFC North, though it may not feel that way.
They've got to fix that horrid run defense that keeps dragging them down.
Most of all, they've got to grow up.
A 27-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday showed that the NFL's upstart team is still a long way from joining the elite.
The Bengals (5-2) couldn't stop the run and couldn't keep up with a team that knows how to play its best in the biggest games.
"We'll beat some teams because we've got some talent," Pro Bowl right tackle Willie Anderson said Monday.
"But those teams that have men over there that don't think this is a game, it's their job -- it's hard to beat that."
Took a beating
They got beat every which way by a Steelers team determined to have its way. Pittsburgh (4-2) ran for 221 yards and made quarterback Carson Palmer look ordinary for the first time since the last time he faced its defense.
Instead of moving 21/2 games ahead of Pittsburgh, the Bengals had their lead trimmed to a half-game. Still, the schedule is favorable -- five games left against teams that currently have losing records, starting with Green Bay (1-5) this weekend.
The Bengals play in Pittsburgh on Dec. 4. The goal is to make sure they win enough between now and then so it's a contest for first place.
"We've got to make sure we don't let that game affect the next one," defensive tackle John Thornton said. "We've got enough good players here to go out and still be successful.
"We still have a good record, we're still in first place, so we've got to act like it. We've got to have that swagger about us and not worry about this past game. We know what our deficiencies are, but we've got to fight to overcome them."
Two stand out
The Bengals knew the Steelers would run on their defense, which was giving up 4.9 yards per carry. They still couldn't stop them. Only three other teams are giving up more yards per carry: Buffalo, Atlanta and Houston.
Until coach Marvin Lewis fixes the run defense, any hope of a postseason run is hollow.
"Those are things that are correctable and they've got to get corrected," Lewis said.
"When you have explosive [runs] like that, at the end of the day it looks overwhelming."
Palmer had his worst game since he played Pittsburgh last season, ending his streak of nine consecutive games with a passer rating of 100. He threw two interceptions and got knocked around all afternoon.
Palmer had a bruised left (non-throwing) shoulder on Monday and was listed as probable for Green Bay. He expects to play, and expects his team to be over the fallout from the loss.
"I don't think Sunday can come soon enough for this team," Palmer said.
"We all have a bad taste in our mouths and realize we had a big opportunity to make something happen, and we didn't do it."
The challenge
The most important task is to figure out how to bridge the gap between a defending champion and a team trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 1990. Anderson, in his 10th year with the Bengals, thinks it's a matter of maturity.
The Bengals became the NFL's hot team with its 5-1 start. Receiver Chad Johnson became a celebrity with his touchdown dances and his who-can't-cover-me checklist. Fans renewed their allegiance, and players savored the attention.
Without naming anyone, Anderson said it's time to get serious.
"As a team, we've got to grow up and quit being so silly," Anderson said.
"I'm saying this to my teammates, because hopefully they read the paper: When you play teams like Pittsburgh, they've got 53 grown men out there playing together for a common goal, not to see who's the biggest star, who's the biggest name.
"I know we're a young team, but we've got to grow up and say we're playing in a league of grown men. You can laugh and have fun, but you'd better be getting ready to go out there for a fight."