The Bengals gave up 145 points through the first five weeks of the year, which was good for 31st in the league, and their defensive deficiencies were the biggest reason why they entered Sunday night’s game 1-4.

Sunday night found that defense in a much better spot. The Bengals shut out the Giants in the first half and left New Jersey with a 17-7 win that they hope will be the springboard to greater success. For that to happen, they need that unity to continue to meet head coach Zac Taylor’s expectations.

“What I see every day of the week – just a resilient group that’s going about it the right way, believing in each other, believing in what we’re doing,” Taylor said via a team transcript. “And that’s what I expect from those guys. And this was a great way for them – on Sunday Night Football, for the whole world – to show who they are, because that’s what we see every day, and that’s the blueprint.”

Sunday night was definitely the blueprint and only time will tell if this is one the Bengals can follow on a regular basis.