CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The question prompted George Seifert to smile and let out a small laugh.

A broadcaster wanted to know whether Cincinnati's 0-2 record made the Bengals an especially dangerous opponent for Seifert's Carolina Panthers.

"They're 0-2? We're 0-2," Seifert said. "We're both dangerous."

A check of some of their other numbers early this season suggests that so far, at least, the Panthers and Bengals have only been dangerous to themselves.

The Panthers head into Sunday's game with the NFL's lowest-rated rushing defense. Carolina is allowing an average of 181 yards on the ground, one of the big reasons the Panthers defense hasn't been able to get off the field.

Jacksonville held the ball for 38 minutes, 9 seconds in a 22-20 victory last week. The Jaguars' time of possession was a record for a Carolina opponent.

Offensively, the Panthers' most telling numbers involve quarterback Steve Beuerlein: 11 sacks, 17 other knockdowns in the pocket, numerous hard shots on scrambles outside the pocket and a piece of torn cartilage in his left knee.

Beuerlein has been able to play since injuring his knee in the first quarter of the Panthers' season-opening loss to New Orleans. But it hasn't been enough to prevent Carolina's third 0-2 start in five years.

Cincinnati, 0-2 for the fourth time in seven years, has one of the worst passing defenses in the AFC and the second-worst passing offense in the conference.

On the rare occasions the Bengals have demonstrated some efficiency, they've canceled it out with devastating errors.

The Bengals drove 66 yards on the game's opening possession last week to take a 3-0 lead over San Diego, then forgot how to hold onto the ball. Cincinnati tied a team record by fumbling seven times, and the Bengals' five turnovers figured prominently in the Chargers' 34-7 victory.

Making matters worse, Cincinnati lost quarterback Jeff Blake to a bruised throwing shoulder. The Bengals spent this week preparing for the likelihood top draft choice Akili Smith, who missed almost all of training camp before signing a seven-year deal that could be worth $56 million, would have to start against the Panthers.

Coach Bruce Coslet didn't hesitate when asked how prepared Smith is for his first NFL start.

"Not real ready," Coslet said. "We would have to have a limited package. That's the price you pay for a rookie quarterback, and especially one that held out for 27 practices. So he's just really in the middle of training camp right now."

Don't get the impression, however, that Coslet thinks Smith is incapable.

"He has a presence about him," the coach said. "He has the types of intangibles that a quarterback in this league needs. But he's just young. He's just as green as grass."

Smith ran the offense in the second half last week, and the Bengals were held to two first downs and 21 yards. Smith said the performance served as evidence he needs to get better in a number of areas, including receiver selection and identification of defenses.

"Being a rookie and getting the amount of money that I did, they're looking to me for instant leadership. But it's tough being a leader when you really don't know what you're doing on the field yet," he said. "So I've got to find myself and continue to work hard to be comfortable in the system, to be comfortable in the city and then take on that leadership role."

The natural tendency would be for the Panthers to turn up the pressure against a rookie quarterback making his first start. But Seifert wasn't showing his hand.

"I could just call Bruce Coslet and tell him what we're doing," Seifert said, tongue planted firmly in cheek.

Realistically, the Panthers know they haven't demonstrated the ability early in the season to get creative with pass rushes because they haven't been able to stop the run. Both Panthers opponents have rushed more than 40 times.

This week Carolina's focus is Cincinnati's Corey Dillon, who has rushed for more than 1,100 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons and has 103 on 33 carries this year.

"We need to stop the little breakdowns we keep having here and there," Carolina defensive end Chuck Wiley said. "It's an attitude. We've got to get out there, get our noses in the dirt and stop their offensive line. We've got to beat them to the punch."

CINCINNATI Season schedule and results

CAROLINA Season schedule and results

September 12 @Tennessee L 35-36 September 19 San Diego L 7-34 September 26 @Carolina 1:00pm ET October 3 St. Louis 1:00pm ET October 10 @Cleveland 1:00pm ET October 17 Pittsburgh 1:00pm ET October 24 @Indianapolis 1:00pm ET October 31 Jacksonville 1:00pm ET November 7 @Seattle 4:15pm ET November 14 Tennessee 1:00pm ET November 21 Baltimore 4:05pm ET November 28 @Pittsburgh 1:00pm ET December 5 San Francisco 1:00pm ET December 12 Cleveland 1:00pm ET December 26 @Baltimore 1:00pm ET January 2 @Jacksonville 1:00pm ET

September 12 @New Orleans L 10-19 September 19 Jacksonville L 20-22 September 26 Cincinnati 1:00pm ET October 3 @Washington 4:05pm ET October 17 @San Francisco 4:15pm ET October 24 Detroit 1:00pm ET October 31 @Atlanta 1:00pm ET November 7 Philadelphia 1:00pm ET November 14 @St. Louis 1:00pm ET November 21 @Cleveland 1:00pm ET November 28 Atlanta 8:20pm ET December 5 St. Louis 1:00pm ET December 12 @Green Bay 1:00pm ET December 18 San Francisco 4:15pm ET December 26 @Pittsburgh 1:00pm ET January 2 New Orleans 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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