Coming off their Monday night loss to Cleveland, the Cincinnati Bengals knew they needed to right the ship before heading for their bye week. Joe Mixon heard the call and posted his best game of the season while making history in the process with a five-touchdown game as he rushed for 153 yards and four of the five touchdowns and added 58 yards on four receptions, and his fifth score as the Bengals dismantled the Carolina Panthers 42-21.

But to say the game was all about the play of Joe Burrow, Mixon, and the Bengals' offense would be a mistake. Defensively, Lou Anarumo had his players ready to shut down the Panthers offense in the first half, and as the teams left the field at the half, the Bengals held a 35-0 advantage.

After the game, Dave Lapham jumped In The Trenches, presented by First Star Logistics, to give his thoughts on the Bengals win, the performances of Mixon and Burrow, and the things needed over the next week as the Bengals will take some time off during the bye with hopes of getting several players back from injury before heading to Pittsburgh for a scheduled Sunday night match-up with the Steelers and the need to get their first win in the AFC North this season.