by Sports Xchange

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said earlier this week that the team has talked about a contract extension with him but that "nothing came to fruition." Zimmer joined the Bengals last season after one season in Atlanta as defensive coordinator and 13 years in Dallas.

Depending on if the Bengals make the playoffs and how far they advance, Zimmer could be a head coaching candidate for what is expected to be at least eight openings at the end of the season.

With Zimmer's tutelage of working under Bill Parcells and Marvin Lewis, he would be an excellent hire. But there are still five games remaining, starting Sunday against Detroit.

"I think I know what I'm worth. I'd like to stay with these players but like anybody you have to do what you want to do," Zimmer said. "As far as a head coaching job, no one has called me. I hear all the little things but I don't even pay attention right now, to be honest."

When asked if he would like to remain, Zimmer didn't hesitate. "I like these guys and players. I think we've built a good foundation."

At midseason, the Bengals were playing pretty solid defense but the numbers didn't bear that out. With their performance in the month of November, not only are they playing like a top 10 defense, but it finally shows up in the statistics.

In their four November games, which included three AFC North teams, the Bengals have vaulted to sixth in total defense (297.6 yards per game) and now lead the league in scoring defense (15.8 points per game). Going into the bye week they were 20th in total defense (351.7 ypg) and ninth in points allowed (18.3 ppg).

One of the keys: not allowing big plays. In the first seven games, the Bengals allowed 30 plays of 20 yards or more. In the last four, they have allowed only five.

"We've been playing good all year long," Zimmer said. "I said at the middle of the season that we are playing better than what we were showing in the numbers. If we can get to rushing the passer more we'll be a little bit better."

During the November stretch, the Bengals allowed just 221.3 yards per game, which is 76 yards below their season average, and 11.5 points per game.

The defense has also gone a team record eight straight games in not allowing 100 yards on the ground and have allowed just one 100-yard rusher the entire season (Cleveland's Jerome Harrison in Week 4). In the league stats, the Bengals are third against the run (81.9 ypg).

SERIES HISTORY: 10th regular-season meeting. Bengals lead series 6-3. The Bengals have won six of the last seven in the series. The last meeting was in 2005 in Detroit, a 41-17 Bengals win that clinched the AFC North division title.