Quarterly Report: Bengals, Zimmer use D to bring A-game

Here is your football quiz for the day: Name the NFL's top scoring defense, and name me four of the starters on that defense.

Don't even look at Baltimore. Or Pittsburgh. Or Denver. Or Minnesota.

None of those normally defense-heavy teams, full of stars on that side of the ball, is the answer.

Mike Zimmer has overcome family tragedy to help the Bengals defense lead the league so far. (Getty Images)

Here's a hint: The team that leads in scoring defense is one you've associated with offense in recent years.

Got it?

Bengals stripes on the helmet help as a hint?

Yes, it's Cincinnati. For most of the tenure of coach Marvin Lewis, the Bengals have been searching for a dominant defense, somewhat strange since Lewis made his bones on that side of the ball.

This season they have it.

The Bengals are giving up 15.6 points per game, 1.2 points better than the Indianapolis Colts, who are in the second spot.

The defense is the biggest reason the Bengals are 9-3 and one victory away from clinching the AFC North.

As the lead-in to our CBSSports.com Quarterly Reports over the years, I've normally focused on the MVP or the Coach of the Year races. But this time, I want to honor the premier assistant coach, and that's why I'm writing about the Bengals defense.

Mike Zimmer is the Assistant of the Year so far. As coordinator of that defense, Zimmer has done an amazing job.

More amazing is that he's done it with a heart as heavy as any, dealing with the shocking death of his wife, Vikki, in October. Zimmer came home and found her dead at the age of 50.

He coached that weekend, helping the Bengals upset the Ravens in Baltimore. Since then he's had to deal with returning each night to the home in which his wife passed away.

One can only imagine the pain.

Through it all, Zimmer has put together a first-class defense and has his name on the "hot guy" list of potential head coaches heading into next season.

Young corners Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph are the keys to the Cincinnati defense. Those two can play man coverage outside, which allows Zimmer a lot of flexibility in his calls.

He can load up the box to stop run-heavy teams, which is only possible with outstanding cover corners.

Zimmer has also done a great job of adjusting on the fly. Defensive end Antwan Odom had eight sacks in the first five games, but then was lost with a torn Achilles tendon. Many suspected the Bengals defense would collapse after that.

They've actually improved. Jonathan Fanene stepped in and now has five sacks at defensive end. Rookie Michael Johnson has two, and is coming on. Zimmer has manufactured 29 sacks without a real pass-rush star.

He's done it without any household names, either. This is a blue-collar group, although the corners are on their way to stardom.

The Bengals defense gets a stiff test this week when it faces the second-ranked scoring offense of Minnesota. But who are we to doubt them?

Take a bow, Mike Zimmer. You've earned it, and then some, for what you've been through this year as a husband and a father.

Football is second, but you somehow have your defense first -- which is a tribute to you in more ways than you know.

Now for the Quarterly Report:

MVP

Colts QB Peyton Manning: It's a tight race heading down the stretch, but he does more with less than the others in the race. What a year he's having.

Runners-up: Saints QB Drew Brees; Vikings QB Brett Favre; Titans RB Chris Johnson; Chargers QB Philip Rivers.

Offensive player

Manning: If he's the MVP, I'll give him the offensive award as well.

Runners-up: Johnson; Brees; Rivers; Favre; Rams RB Steven Jackson; Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.

Defensive player

Packers CB Charles Woodson: He's finally getting his due. He's having a huge year for the top-ranked (yards) defense. Woodson can do it all.

Runners-up: Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil; Vikings DE Jared Allen; Jets CB Darrelle Revis; Saints S Darren Sharper.

Coach

Marvin Lewis, Bengals: He has his team one victory away from the AFC North title. The Bengals?

Runners-up: Sean Payton, Saints; Jim Caldwell, Colts; Josh McDaniels, Broncos; Jack Del Rio, Jaguars.

Assistant coach

Zimmer. Can it be anybody else? He has the best defense and has overcome the biggest issues.

Runners-up: Broncos defensive coordinator Mike Nolan; Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams; Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore; Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander.

Offensive rookie

Vikings WR-KR Percy Harvin: He is a big-play talent who is really coming on as a receiver.

Runners-up: Colts WR Austin Collie; Vikings T Phil Loadholdt; Ravens T Michael Oher; Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin; Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno; Jaguars T Eben Britton.

Defensive rookie

Texans LB Brian Cushing: He is a rangy, tough, physical linebacker who shows up a ton on Sundays.

Runners-up: Rams LB James Laurinaitis; Bills S Jairus Byrd; Jaguars CB Derek Cox; Redskins DE Brian Orakpo; Packers LB Clay Matthews; Colts CB Jerraud Powers.

Best trend

Watching the greatness of the top quarterbacks. Have we ever had it this good?

Runner-up: Protecting the quarterbacks. They are the lifeblood of this league.

Perplexing trend

Poll Who is your MVP pick? 25% Peyton Manning   42% Drew Brees   17% Brett Favre   11% Chris Johnson   4% Philip Rivers   Total Votes: 27752

All the concussion issues. That's scary.

Runner-up (tie): No more parity. Is it really the haves and the have-nots? That's not what the NFL wants. Throwback uniforms; it's so overdone.

Best free-agent pickup

Vikings QB Brett Favre: Yes, he exceeded my expectations. It helps he has such a talented offensive cast.

Runners-up: Broncos LB Andra Davis; Saints CB Jabari Greer; Broncos NT Ronald Fields; Sharper; Broncos S Brian Dawkins

Most disappointing team

Steelers: They might go from Super Bowl winner to non-playoff team. That's hard to believe with that talent.

Runners-up: Ravens, Titans, Giants, Falcons.

Most disappointing player

Texans RB Steve Slaton: His season is over and he's on IR after a bad numbers season. He fumbled his way into the doghouse.

Runners-up: Bears QB Jay Cutler; Bears RB Matt Forte; Panthers WR Steve Smith; Raiders RB Darren McFadden; Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell.

Most improved player

Dolphins DT Randy Starks: In his sixth season, with his second team, he has become a force inside for Miami.

Runners-up: Cowboys WR Miles Austin; Vikings WR Sidney Rice; Chargers WR Vincent Jackson; Saints G Carl Nicks; Bengals C Kyle Cook.

Surprise team

Jaguars. They would be in the playoffs if they started today. What? This was supposed to be a rebuilding season.

Runners-up: Broncos, Bengals.

Surprise player

Cowboys WR Miles Austin: He has emerged as Dallas' go-to player. Do they miss T.O.?

Runners-up: Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall; Greer; Starks.

Best game

New Orleans 33, Washington 30 (OT; Week 13) and Colts 35, Patriots 34 (Week 10): The Saints stayed unbeaten thanks to a miracle comeback and a missed field goal from 27 yards. There were some amazing plays. ... In Indianapolis, Bill Belichick had a brain freeze and allowed the Colts to win in the final seconds.

Runners-up: Patriots 25, Bills 24 (Week 1); Colts 27, Dolphins 23 (Week 2); Giants 33, Cowboys 31 (Week 2); Vikings 27, 49ers 24 (Week 3); Vikings 30, Packers 23 (Week 4); Titans 20, Cardinals 17 (Week 12).

Best moment

Tie: Lions breaking their 19-game losing streak and the Rams breaking their 17-game skid.

Worst moment

When Zimmer's wife passed away. Nothing else compares.

Runners-up: Belichick's fourth-and-stupid call; Watching all those flags fly in the Green Bay-Baltimore game. Ugly.