Although the Cincinnati Bengals have the twenty-eighth ranked run defense in the league, Jacksonville Jaguars star running back Maurice Jones-Drew isn't buying into the team's statistics. The running back fully expects the Bengals defense to bring their A-game when the Jaguars visit Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday.

Jones-Drew was forthcoming regarding Sunday's matchup and the team's approach to the game during a phone interview on Tuesday.

"A lot of teams try to do whatever they can to stop our running game and I don't expect anything different," he said. "Marvin Lewis is a defensive minded coach and might try to do the same thing. We'll have to see what they throw at us first, adjust, and keep going."

Coming off an upset loss to Cleveland, Jones-Drew was quick to point out how prognosticators chalked up a Jacksonville win over the struggling Browns, and gave no indication that the Jags are overlooking the winless Bengals, who they're favored to win against.

"We're both coming off losses and someone is going to have to win on Sunday," Jones-Drew said. "We're going to prepare and do everything that we can to come out with the victory. Obviously, they're going to do the same, but somebody has to win and somebody has to lose. However, we are not looking past them."

The Bengals defense will be faced with the daunting task of trying to shutdown Jacksonville's running game and the one-two–punch of Fred Taylor and Jones-Drew.

Not only do they have to worry about corralling Jones-Drew when running the ball, but receiving the ball out of the backfield as well. He's a relentless runner and probably the most versatile back in the league.

Entering his third-year, Jones-Drew has put up some gaudy numbers that rank him among the league's elite. Coming into the 2008 season, Jones-Drew ranked third behind LaDainian Tomlinson and Marion Barber in rushing touchdowns with 23. He finished second behind Michael Turner in rushing average, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

Jones-Drew's total combined numbers for rushing, receiving and returning kicks in two seasons are staggering, 4,561 yards and 28 touchdowns. Only Tomlinson has had bigger output. The kicker is Jones-Drew has been a back-up player to Taylor for two seasons and counting.

The bottom line is that he has done substantially more with substantially less in terms of touches and playing time, which makes him extremely dangerous.

The 5-foot-7, 208-pound Jones-Drew has carried the ball 77 times for 330 yards and five touchdowns this season, but admits that the Jags' running game is struggling a bit after the team was held to 113 yards rushing against Cleveland.

He was very blunt about what needed to take place in order to get things back on track against the Bengals.

"Every game you have to establish the run game, first and foremost. Running the ball opens up the passing game and helps maintain ball control. We just have to get back to the basics and figure out away to run the ball, and run it like I know we can," he said.

As far as being up for Sunday's game, it doesn't take much to motivate the runner.

"My motivation is for the love of the game, preparing for it and the fear of failing. The fear of not being able to play at my best is always motivation for me," Jones-Drew said.

The dynamic running back let it be known that he is 100-percent after battling back from an early ankle injury and is ready to roll. The only question is can the Bengals defense stop him?

Carlos "Big C" Holmes covers the NFL for the Dayton Daily News.