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The Bengals are coming off a brutal loss to the Steelers Jake Fisher Jersey , but they are still 4-2 on the season and remain in first place in the AFC North. There are plenty of teams that would kill to be in the same position as the Bengals, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things they can’t do better though, especially if they want to make a postseason run. Here are some things the Bengals should focus on improving if they want to keep hope alive this season.More consistency from the right side of the offensive lineIt isn’t totally fair to sit here and say right guard Alex Redmond and right tackle Bobby Hart don’t have any right being on a football field. Both players have shown an ability to play the position well. They were both responsible for some big runs by Joe Mixon on Sunday. However, they both have a habit of giving up a big play to the defense. This happens more often when they are pass protecting. Redmond’s inconsistencies in pass protection have cots the Bengals several drives, and last week against the Steelers defense was no different. Hart has had trouble with allowing free rushers, but has been slightly more consistent than Redmond. The only reason Andy Dalton has been better about avoiding sacks this year is because offensive coordinator Bill Lazor is allowing him to make quicker decisions, and Dalton can actually step up in the pocket because their former center Russell Bodine isn’t getting pushed back every play.The fact the the Bengals haven’t tried guys like Jake Fisher or Christian Westerman out at tackle and guard respectively means they probably won’t at this point. It should be something the team considers though if these inconsistencies continue.Playing to winThe Bengals took a step in the right direction when they went down the field after an Alex Erickson kick return and tied the game at 14 before the half last week, but if Erickson doesn’t have that return, is Cincinnati content to just go into the half down seven while getting the ball after halftime? It’s hard to tell Womens Andrew Billings Jersey , but a better example of the Bengals playing to not lose rather than to win came in the second half. After another great return by Alex Erickson to start the second half, Cincinnati was faced with a fourth-and-one on Pittsburgh’s 40 yard line. They decided to punt the ball. Marvin Lewis defended the decision by saying “I’m not going to give them the ball there.”It seems he trusted his defense and special teams unit too much as the punt netted 28 yards and the Steelers went down the field anyway and kicked a field goal to take the lead anyway. There are people who will defend this line of thinking with something as cliche as “if you can’t convert in three downs then what makes you think you can get it on fourth down?” Well this is why.We are playing with a little bit of hindsight knowing that they gave up a field goal anyways, but those numbers are certainly favorable for the offense. Also, you should consider it more when you are facing your division rival that has seemed to find every which way to beat you over the past few seasons. Maybe a play like that could’ve swung things in your favor — We will never know now.Having linebackers play more aggressively in pass coverageThe Bengals have lost Nick Vigil for around a month now, and even before he went down, the linebackers have been a major issue in pass coverage. It is hard to imagine any wholesale changes to the way they play at this point in the season, but it is disappointing to see them drop back in coverage and look like they are just waiting for someone in front of them to catch the ball so they can tackle them.Of course the Bengals don’t really have the talent at linebacker for these guys to do much else in coverage. They don’t have a linebacker with a quick twitch or be able to break on the ball to stop moderate gains over the middle. Honestly, outside of getting pressure on the quarterback, I’m not sure how they’d even fix this issue at this point of the season. It seems like Teryl Austin is more willing to blitz his linebackers that Paul Guenther was as a defensive coordinator Womens John Miller Jersey , but that only masks so much of the issue.Get pressure on the quarterback and turnoversThe Bengals have showed when they get pressure on the quarterback that good things happen. They are 4-0 when they have at least two sacks. In their two losses on the season they have one combined sack. Turnovers have also been a huge reason for the Bengals win. The main reason why they beat Miami was because of the two turnovers that the defense turned into touchdowns. They also had turnovers that sealed their wins against the Colts and Ravens. Austin being more aggressive as a defensive coordinator has really paid off most of the season. An issue that has come up though is Carl Lawson’s playing time. Despite him being the team’s third best pass rusher, he has had a hard time seeing the field as consistently as Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap. Most of that probably has to do with the team worrying about opposing squads running at him, but at some point you just have to play your best players. Michael Johnson getting almost double the playing time as Lawson doesn’t look good when your team isn’t getting any pressure.What do you think the Bengals need to work on the rest of the season?Bengals Bytes (9/11): Joe Mixon becomes the focus of the offense Bengals Looking For All Hands On Deck To Cool Off RavensShawn Williams thinks he’ll play after the first ejection of his life. Preston Brown wants to play after he didn’t finish a game for the first time in his life. And Sam Hubbard just found out he’s going to play more defense after he played fullback for the first time in his life.Marvin Lewis News Conference Transcript - 9/10“We have a lot of improvement to make, and we have to make it in a hurry. We did a good job in the running game for the most part, offensively. We have to shore some things up protection-wise. We got bulled (bull-rushed) a little bit. We need to keep understanding that and fix it in the right spots. That will be helpful. Special teams-wise, we didn’t really have a lot of opportunity, but there are some things we have to be conscience of. We need to make sure we’re always paying attention to the details and shore things up. Defensively, we have some things we have to do a little bit better. With Shawn Williams’ ejection, Clayton Fejedelem was in the game and Jessie Bates became the experienced guy back there very quickly Trey Hopkins Jersey , (in regard) to the guy that’s got all the work (leading up to the regular season). We have to continue to get better there. (Bates) played a good first football game. We just have to have everybody on the same page throughout the defensive football team.”Quick Hits: Bengals Mull MLB Status; Austin Salutes BatesMiddle linebacker Preston Brown has never missed one of his 65 NFL games, but the Bengals may not know until Thursday night’s game against the Ravens (8:20 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Channel 12) if he’s available as they check out the ankle he injured in the first half in Sunday’s win in Indianapolis.Bengals' Shawn Williams: 'I don't know what else I'm supposed to do'He was the first player ejected under the umbrella of the new point of emphasis for illegal use of helmet. Williams will likely receive a fine and any potential suspension for Thursday’s game against Baltimore would be expected to be assessed at some point Monday. As of 5 p.m., the Bengals had not received word of any suspension for their starting safety.Cincinnati Bengals: Grading the victory over the ColtsThe Bengals lost their 2017 opener at home and then couldn’t bounce back for Game 2 during a short week. This time with a similar quick turnaround to Thursday’s home opener against the Baltimore Ravens, they are riding momentum of a strong second half Sunday.Could the Cincinnati Bengals have a repeat of the 1988 season?You knew Mike Brown had gravely erred when he brought back Marvin Lewis as head coach for 2018. You knew that Lewis’ third straight season without a playoff berth – and more importantly, his NFL-record 16th straight without a playoff win – was well underway.Bengals: No time to revel in Week 1 victory with Ravens loomingCincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis came into his weekly press conference Monday afternoon, exchanged pleasantries with the media and commented that he was tired. With a quick turnaround to Thursday’s home opener against Baltimore, there wasn’t much time to rest Sunday night as he reviewed film of the team’s 34-23 win at Indianapolis and began preparations for the Ravens.Mixon it up: Bengals 2nd-year RB is focus of new offenseThe second-year running back was the focus of Cincinnati’s redesigned offense on Sunday, getting all but one of the carries and finishing second in receiving. A 34-23 win at Indianapolis showed a different focus in coordinator Bill Lazor’s redesigned playbook.Preston: After laugher of an opener, Ravens prepare for real prime-time test in short weekThe Ravens travel to Cincinnati on Thursday night for the Bengals’ home opener at Paul Brown Stadium. As impressive as the Ravens were and as much excitement as they created against Buffalo Cordy Glenn Jersey , the game had the flavor of a preseason contest.Random BytesNFL Team Grades for Week 1 of 2018It's hard to imagine a wilder opening to the 2018 NFL season. The Philadelphia Eagles began their title defense at home with a Week 1 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers mounted a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback. And the Cleveland Browns ended their 17-game losing streak—with a tie.Report: Rams Offered 2 Picks for Khalil Mack, Would Have Traded LB in OffseasonAccording to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Rams offered first- and third-round draft picks to the Oakland Raiders for Mack during the offseason. Oakland ultimately rejected the offer and traded the pass-rusher to the Chicago Bears.Raiders HC Jon Gruden Says Khalil Mack 'Didn't Want to Play Here'The defensive end held out the entire preseason seeking an extension beyond the final year of his rookie deal in 2018. He was eventually traded to the Chicago Bears, where he was able to quickly agree to a six-year, $141 million contract extension.Jon Gruden loss gives debuting NFL coaches 0-7 startThe Raiders, in a complete rebuild under Gruden with 31 players on the team's 53-man roster having never spent a day on the team's 53-man roster last season, fell to the Los Angeles Rams 33-13 on Monday night before an announced crowd of 53,857 at the Oakland Coliseum.Todd Gurley, Rams Spoil Jon Gruden's Debut with Win over RaidersLos Angeles opened its 2018 season with a 33-13 road victory over the Oakland Raiders on Monday in Oakland Alameda Coliseum. Jared Goff (17-of-32 for 229 yards and two touchdowns) and Todd Gurley (108 rushing yards Dre Kirkpatrick Jersey , 39 receiving yards and one touchdown) combined to spoil Jon Gruden's first game as a head coach since 2008.What we learned from Rams, Jets victories on MondayAfter a humbling low-wattage first-half performance, Sean McVay and the Rams rebounded in the second half to steal time of possession, momentum and a win from the Raiders in Jon Gruden's homecoming. The league's leading offense from a season ago didn't look it in the first two frames. Reigning Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley had just five touches; offseason acquisition Brandin Cooks was nowhere to be found; and Jared Goff looked off.