The 0-8 Cincinnati Bengals haven't had much to cheer about this season. Aside from the obvious, you have fair-weather fans jumping off the bandwagon, trading game tickets for what seems like boxes of Cracker Jack hoping to find a better prize inside. You also have media coverage that rips the organization every chance it gets.

Luckily for die-hard Bengal fans and owner Mike Brown, the players still believe in themselves and refuse to give up despite all the negativity they have endured during the team's winless streak. There is hope in sight.

During a phone interview with Bengals starting defensive tackle Domata Peko Thursday evening, Oct. 30, he talked about Bengal pride and today's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"I'm proud to be a Bengal," Peko said. "At the time we're 0-8, but I love Cincinnati, the organization and being a Bengal. It's a dream come true playing a game I love to play. Since I was little, I wanted to be in the NFL and to be with the Bengals is great. We're going to turn stuff around starting off with this win against Jacksonville. We just have to stay positive. Despite all else, I'm just proud to be a Bengal, man."

On the sideline, in the locker room and around the city of Cincinnati the D-tackle is always seen with an Ultra Brite smile on his face. That's just his nature.

Although Peko didn't guarantee a Bengal win today, he sounded very confident about the team getting a win against Jacksonville. He was also confident about Jacksonville's approach on offense to try and expose the Bengals defense.

"I know they're going to try and run the ball on us because that's what they like to do," Peko said. "They're a smashmouth team with two great running backs in (Maurice) Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor, and the offensive line is pretty tough. They said through the media that they were going to come here and pound the ball on us, but we're going to step up to the challenge.

"I love teams that try and run the ball on me. That's a challenge for me, and I can't wait for Sunday to stuff that run up."

The 6-foot-3, 325-pound Peko has taken the statement made by Jacksonville personally and is prepared to step up his game today. The defensive tackle has accounted for 37 tackles this season and takes great pleasure in annihilating running backs. Peko usually comes off the field in nickel and dime situations, but is ready to be turned loose today.

"I want to continue to fly around out there and make plays as I have in the past," he said. "I'm trying to get better at gaining more penetration to get more tackles for loss. That's what I've been working on; trying to get more penetration in the backfield and show more of a pass-rush against opposing teams."

Peko couldn't say enough about the improving defense and the effect defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has had on the unit.

"My first two years with the Bengals we really didn't do that well on defense," he said. "There have been a lot of changes on defense like the way we practice, which helped our play on the field like running to the ball, being aggressive and staying hungry.

"Coach Zimmer brings attitude to the defense, and if you're not doing it right he'll go get someone else to do it for you. He's always in your face causing you to play harder and that makes you want to play for this guy. He's real hard-nose and all over you if you make a mistake. That's what pushes our defense to try and get better each and every game."

Peko said Zimmer has made the difference on defense and the unit is doing some good things to allow them to stay in games longer. He said if the team could just put some points on the board they would have an even better defense.

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