When the Cincinnati Bengals played Cleveland in their first meeting of the year, Browns rookie running back Trent Richardson ran through, and in a couple of cases over, them for 109 yards and a touchdown.

“We probably had double-digit missed tackles against him,” Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko said. “It kind of woke us up a little bit. Since then we’ve been playing the run pretty good.”

In the first three games of the season the Bengals surrendered 465 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, giving up an average of 5.8 yards per carry.

But in the last two weeks, the Bengals have allowed just 137 yards on 53 carries (2.6 ypg). They held Jacksonville’s Maurcie Jones-Drew, who at the time was the No. 2 rusher in the NFL, to 38 yards on 13 carries two weeks ago. And last week they limited Miami’s Reggie Bush, who came in as the No. 3 rusher in the league, to 48 yards on 19 carries.

“We didn’t want to be a defense that just wants to show up to a game and play,” middle linebacker Rey Maualuga said. “We want to be that defense that (defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer) knows we can be. The defense that we know we can be.”

The Bengals finished 2011 ranked No. 7 in the league in total defense and No. 10 in rush defense. They head into Sunday’s game at Cleveland 18th in total defense and 19th in rush defense, but both numbers are on the rise.

“We didn’t get the start that we wanted on defense this year, but it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” Peko said. “We’re getting better each and every week and that’s a positive sign. I think we’re playing the run a lot more stout the past couple of weeks.”

The Bengals have not allowed a 100-yard rusher since Richardson in the Week 2 game at Paul Brown Stadium. The reason, according to head coach Marvin Lewis, is simple.

“We continue to do more and more — do our jobs,” he said. “You guys (the media) want me to make it sexy, but I can’t say anything more than that. It is what it is: you play defense with 11 guys playing together. If 11 guys fit together correctly, you’ve got a chance to be really successful if you’ll tackle.”

With better tackling has come better results on third down. The Bengals have allowed their last three opponents to convert only nine of 36 third downs, which in turn has led to fewer yards and fewer points allowed.

“They obviously have settled in,” Browns coach Pat Shurmur said. “I see them playing very similar in a lot of ways, but I see them playing better team defense than the first time we played them.”

That team aspect, Maualuga said, has been the key.

“It’s just lining up and playing,” he said. “Everyone being able to communicate. Everybody being able to have that stamina to all run to the ball. The mindset that everybody has got to make each tackle when they get their hands on the ball carrier.

“Only time will tell how much better we can get, but for the most part we’re improving.”