CINCINNATI -- Three times last Sunday against the Ravens the Cincinnati Bengals were in goal-line territory.

All three times they scored touchdowns.

All three times they scored them by running.

That perfect conversion rating led to a 3-for-5 showing in the red zone, the area where Cincinnati had its share of struggles at the beginning of the season. The Ravens entered that game having the league's most efficient red-zone defense, allowing touchdowns on just 36.4 percent of red-zone drives.

So consider the Bengals' 60 percent conversion rating last week laudable.

This Sunday, with the Jacksonville Jaguars having leapfrogged Baltimore and now boasting the NFL's most efficient red-zone defense, the Bengals' offense is looking for a repeat performance.

"It's been a point of emphasis that when we get down there to score touchdowns," quarterback Andy Dalton said.

After the Bengals had a lone, fruitless red zone trip late in a 27-0 loss at Indianapolis two weeks ago, they had to get to the red area often against the Ravens and perform once they did. They aren't trying to relive the Colts outing anytime soon.

It will take a sound passing game between the 20s and a strong running game from inside them in order for that to happen.

"A lot is made about yards per carry, but there is more attention to getting yourselves, in my mind, in third-and-manageables," veteran offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said about extending drives to get to the red zone.

Against the Colts, 10 of the Bengals' 13 third-down conversions required seven-yard gains. When an offense consistently has that far to go to get a first down, it struggles to move the ball into the red zone. That is what happened to the Bengals that afternoon as they converted just one of their 13 third-down chances. Whitworth said the only way to counteract those third-and-long situations is to have difficult and crucial catches move the ball. On the Bengals' go-ahead drive in the closing minutes of Sunday's 27-24 win, two third-down receptions, by Mohamed Sanu and Greg Little, respectively, pushed them to the doorstep of the end zone.

Once there, the Bengals put the ball on the ground, handing off to running back Jeremy Hill twice and punching in the dramatic game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard Dalton quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal. Nine of the Bengals' 10 rushing touchdowns this season have come in goal-line territory.

Three of the five rushing scores the Jaguars' second-ranked goal-line defense has allowed have come in goal-to-go situations.

"It keeps you aggressive and it just creates a really difficult situation for the defense," Whitworth said of running in the red zone. "The safeties and corners down there really want to trust that they don't have to worry too much about the run game, because they can get a quick fade or a back shoulder or a slant.

"They've got so many things to worry about. When you can run it well and coaches are on them to get up in there and help make a tackle, then the next thing you know, everything else opens up. It makes it tough on them."

Hill, who will be starting Sunday in place of injured starting running back Giovani Bernard, relishes the opportunity to run from inside the 20.

"Somebody's always going to be unblocked, especially in goal-line situations," Hill said. "You just have to dig deep and just find a way whether you go over the top, run through people. However you have to get in there, you have to get in there."