The heart attack in a helmet otherwise known as the Cincinnati Bengals continues to palpitate. With a familiar-looking, 80-yard game-winning drive against the Ravens yesterday, the Bengals won their fourth game this season by seven points or less and now sit alone atop the AFC North. Tied for second? The two 2008 AFC Championship game participants, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, both of which the Bengals have now beaten. America, it’s time to believe in the Bengals.

But how are they doing it? How is a team led by an oft-injured (and oft-written off) QB, with an unknown defense and a yet-to-play top-10 pick (and just one year removed from a 4-12 disaster) in contention for top-four seed? Here are a few reasons:

1. Cedric Benson: The Chicago castaway has run for at least 74 yards in every game this season, and his 120-yard outing against the Ravens made him the first back to reach triple digits against Ray Murda and Friends since Larry Johnson was still living (week 14, 2006). That Ravens’ streak is a tad misleading, considering the Giants had two 90-yard rushers against the Nevermores last season, but, whatever. Benson carried 12 times for 62 yards in the second half Sunday, wearing down a Baltimore defense that has struggled to win the T.O.P. battle against winning teams so far this season. Actually, the Baltimore defense has just plain struggled against winning teams so far, but they’ve forced some timely turnovers and clamped down inside the 20’s. Can they keep that up? Stay tuned. But you might want to go ahead and pencil the AFC North in for three playoff teams.

2. The defense: In their five games, the Bengals’ defense (led by tragedy-stricken Mike Zimmer) has given up 12, 24, 20, 20 and 14 points. Last year’s defense, arguably the lone bright spot in a lost season, surrendered 23 points per game. Ah, self improvement is not just masturbation. Zimmer’s unit (hehe) is littered with recent first- and second-round draft picks (Antwan Odom, Johnathan Joseph, Leon Hall, Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga) who are either in or approaching their prime. In a division recently dominated by the punishing defenses of the Steelers and Ravens, the Bengals are catching up to their big brothers in this regard. And as soon as Dhani Jones is no longer starting for them, the chase will be complete.

carson-palmer3. Carson Palmer: He still hasn’t returned to his 2005, MVP-level of play (and maybe never will), and Palmer has thrown six INT’s to go along with his seven TD passes, but he’s led three straight game-winning, fourth-quarter (or OT) drives. That’s impressive. His completion percentage sucks, his yards per attempt sucks, his TD-to-INT ratio sucks, but his team’s 4-1. Wins is how we judge QB’s, right?

4. Chad Ochocinco: In Ochocinco’s lost season of 2008, his best single-game receiving total was 79 yards. Five games into 2009, the object of Ty Duffy’s scorn has already surpassed that thrice. Ochcocinco may be 31, his production may vary wildly and his head may be screwed on about as tight as Tera Patrick’s vagina, but between the white lines he’s a wide receiver any NFL coach would be foolish not to want on his team.

5. Tom Nelson: The hard-hitting, scrappy Hard Knocks standout from Reggie Redbird University is the team’s backup free safety and has only posted one tackle so far this season, but trust us, before the season is over he’ll be a difference maker for the Bengals. He’s scrappy, for Chrissakes.