The Sports Xchange

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals have heard all about the Buffalo Bills’ injury woes.

The Bills could be without quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who has an MCL sprain, and have just two healthy running backs for Sunday’s game at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

But the unbeaten Bengals say they aren’t falling into that trap.

“To me, it’s almost kind of like mind games,” Bengals defensive end Wallace Gilberry said. “We’ve got enough tape on them to know what they’re going to do and know what they’re capable of doing. We just have to go out and stick to our game plan … no matter who they got out there.”

Cincinnati (5-0) has maintained focus throughout its five-game winning streak. Even while trailing by 17 points in the fourth quarter last week, the Bengals were unfazed, rallying for a 27-24 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks.

“The challenge is to stay strong every week and not take too much of a deep breath,” Gilberry said. “Five-and-0 is good, but 6-and-0 sounds a lot better.”

If the Bengals are going to remain undefeated through six games for only the third time in franchise history, they’ll need to slow a Bills rushing attack that averaged an AFC-leading 128 yards through five games.

Cincinnati’s defense is smarting a bit after allowing rookie Thomas Rawls to gain 169 yards on the ground last week.

“We made some adjustments at halftime and it helped out tremendously,” Gilberry said. “If you can make a team one-dimensional, you stop the run and get after the passer, it should go in your favor.”

Which Buffalo passer the Bengals are going to get after was still undecided as of Wednesday.

It was reported that Taylor could be out with an MCL sprain suffered on a horse-collar tackle in last Sunday’s game against Tennessee and the Bills are preparing to start E.J. Manuel on Sunday.

“I don’t think it will be a huge change,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “Obviously, Tyrod Taylor’s foot speed is a little bit of a difference. Both are good athletes. E.J. is a big man. Stands tall in the pocket. We’ve got to do a good job of squeezing the pocket around him.”

Taylor is the Bills’ second-leading rusher behind Karlos Williams, who could return this week after missing one game with a concussion. Buffalo (3-2) expects to welcome back receiver Sammy Watkins as well.

“They give you so many different looks to make you prepare for a lot of different things,” Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said. “They do a really good job in their blitz packages trying to disguise things. We have to be sharp with everything we do in our preparation.”

Speaking of sharp, Dalton has been just that through five weeks, completing 67.5 percent of his passes for 1,518 yards and 11 touchdowns with only two interceptions.

At least to this point, you can cue the sound of crickets chirping for the Dalton critics.

“I’ve had to bear a lot of (criticism),” Dalton said. “We’re 5-0 right now. Hopefully, after the season, they’re talking the same way about me. ‘What have you done for me lately?’ is the nature of the business.”

NOTES: K Mike Nugent was named the AFC special teams player of the week after making his only two field goal attempts against the Seahawks, a 31-yarder to tie the score 24-24 on the final play of regulation and a 42-yarder in overtime to give the Bengals a 27-24 win. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and Buffalo’s Rex Ryan were on the Baltimore Ravens’ coaching staff from 1999 through 2001. Lewis was the defensive coordinator and Ryan served as defensive line coach. … TE Tyler Eifert was prepared to team up with Jermaine Gresham to give the Bengals a one-two punch at tight end last season. That plan was squelched when Eifert suffered a season-ending injury. Now that Eifert is healthy, and with Dalton and the Bengals offense firing on all cylinders, Eifert is putting up huge numbers. Through five games, the Notre Dame product has 24 catches for 312 yards and five touchdowns.