After starting off the season 0-2, the Cincinnati Bengals are 5-4 in the midst of their bye week. Cincinnati’s 42-14 win against the Carolina Panthers highlighted something. That could boost the Bengals as they face a hefty second half.

Cincinnati’s ability to adjust after a setback helped them get to their bye above .500. With star wide receiver Ja’ Marr Chase sidelined by a hip injury. The Bengals turned to their rushing game last week. Particularly turning to running back Joe Mixon. Who stepped up big time with a day full of career achievements. He scored five of the Bengals six touchdowns last week.

Mixon set a franchise record for the most touchdowns in a single game. Four of those were rushing touchdowns. Making Mixon the only player in the NFL to have four rushing TD’s in a single game to date this season. Mixon’s big game earned him AFC offensive player of the week honors. All of this happened days after the Bengals struggled to adjust on Halloween at the Cleveland Browns.

Losing Ja’Marr Chase is a test to the Bengals offensive depth. They’ve stepped up to the challenge by turning to their rushing game and Chase’s fellow receivers. While the Bengals were scoreless through the first three quarters against Cleveland. Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins scored touchdowns in the fourth. By contrast, the Bengals scored all of their 42 points last Sunday before the fourth quarter. Most of the points were scored through rushing touchdowns from Joe Mixon and Joe Burrow. Receiving-wise, Tee Higgins led the game with seven receptions.

Cincinnati’s defense had a good first half of the season. The Bengals defense heads into their bye week with eight interceptions. Vonn Bell is responsible for half of those interceptions. Bell is in a five-way tie for second in the league interceptions-wise. The Bengals are tied for seventh league-wide in that category.

Elsewhere defensively, Germaine Pratt and Trey Hendrickson are having a good season. Pratt leads the Bengals with 60 total tackles and 31 assisted tackles. The Bengals linebacker also has a sack and an interception. Hendrickson leads the Bengals with four sacks, Sam Hubbard is close behind with 3.5 sacks. Cincinnati’s defense is keeping the team in a position to contend. After another Battle of Ohio game where the Bengals defense struggled to stop Nick Chubb. The unit rebounded with Pratt and Jessie Bates III getting interceptions. Cincinnati’s offense gave their defense plenty of time to catch their breath and exhausted Carolina’s defense.

The Bengals head into the second half of their season in good shape. While they are winless against their AFC North division rivals so far. Along with not being in a position to qualify for the playoffs if it started today. They have the time to turn that around. Though they face a daunting second half schedule.

They return from their bye week with a road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals will strive to avenge their season opening overtime loss. To a Steelers team in the midst of a rebuilding year. On Thanksgiving weekend, the Bengals will face the contending Tennessee Titans in Nashville. After that, the Bengals host the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns.

Cincinnati will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa on December 18th. Then face the New England Patriots on Christmas Eve in Foxboro, MA. Then comes their Monday night game hosting the Buffalo Bills on January 2nd. Along with the regular season finale on January 8th hosting the current AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens. If the Bengals win the majority of their remaining games. Not only will they have a winning season and potentially a playoff berth. They’ll also have wins against some of the league’s most formidable contenders.