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Sep 22, 2010 - 6:32 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Senior Writer

Embarrassed after a dreadful debut, the Cincinnati Bengals defense bounced back with an outstanding, interception-producing performance.

They might have an even better opportunity to frustrate an opposing passer this week.

Fed up with two turnover-filled games from Matt Moore, the desperate Carolina Panthers turn to rookie Jimmy Clausen as they try to avoid a second consecutive 0-3 start Sunday against the visiting Bengals.

Cincinnati (1-1) surrendered 248 yards in the first half in Week 1 against New England, quickly falling behind by three touchdowns in a 38-24 loss.

The Bengals returned home to take on Baltimore faced with the prospect of falling two games behind their AFC North rival, but the defense made sure that wouldn't happen. Cincinnati picked off Joe Flacco four times in a 15-10 victory that stretched its winning streak within the division to eight.

"We just felt awful," safety Chris Crocker said of the first week. "We knew we had to come in with our hard hats and this was a game we had to win."

On the horizon for Cincinnati in Week 4 and 5 are games against Cleveland and Tampa Bay - teams that are either in flux under center or feature a young starter - but first up is Carolina (0-2), which heads into Sunday with the league's least experienced starting quarterback.

Moore impressed in five starts down the stretch in 2009, but his first two games this season couldn't have gone much worse. He committed six turnovers in the two losses, and coach John Fox decided he'd seen enough in the fourth quarter Sunday against Tampa Bay after Moore went 6 for 16 with an interception and a fumble.

Clausen came in with 10 minutes left and also threw a pick in the 20-7 loss. After the game Fox wouldn't say whether he was sticking with the rookie from Notre Dame.

By Monday, he had.

"We've just not been getting it done," Fox said. "Jimmy is a guy we think highly of. I thought he made the most of his opportunities Sunday. We'll see how it goes this week."

Clausen marched the Panthers down the field on his initial drive, one that stalled when Carolina had a first-and-goal from the 4-yard line.

The final three failed attempts from inside the 5 were rushes, and Carolina needs to get that part of its game going if it plans on turning around its season.

The Panthers finished 2009 as the league's third-best rushing team at 156.1 yards per game behind 1,000-yard backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, but they've averaged 104.0 yards through two weeks.

It's been a lot easier for opponents to concentrate on the ground game since Carolina has just six receptions from wideouts other than Steve Smith.

Cincinnati can relate to the Panthers' rushing concerns. Cedric Benson has yet to get untracked for the Bengals after running for 1,251 yards last season, as he's averaged 3.2 per carry.

Like Carolina, Cincinnati hasn't had much consistency through the air. Carson Palmer was outstanding in the second half against New England, going 22 of 31 for 215 yards and two touchdowns, but he's been rather ordinary otherwise.

Though Palmer has thrown one interception, he's had numerous passes dropped by defenders. His passer rating is 60.4 excluding the second half against the Patriots, and he completed only seven passes to Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens versus Baltimore.

"I'm frustrated right now," Palmer said. "... You've just got to play a field-position game, settle and be OK with kicking field goals. I can't say it enough times - you can't turn the ball over."

Palmer didn't turn it over in the Bengals' last meeting with Carolina, throwing two touchdowns in a 17-14 home win in 2006.

Cincinnati, however, has given up 79 points in losing both of its visits to Charlotte. The 52 the Bengals gave up in a road loss to Carolina on Dec. 8, 2002, are the most they've allowed in franchise history.