The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-0 in the preseason for the first time since 2006 when they went unbeaten for the second time in franchise history.

But history has proved there is little correlation between preseason wins and regular season success, and that 2006 campaign is perfect example as the Bengals, coming off an AFC North Division title the year before, struggled to an 8-8 mark when the games counted.

The only other unbeaten preseason came in 1971 when the team went 5-0-1 and then fell to 4-10 in the regular season.

As his team prepared for today’s 7 p.m. game against the Green Bay Packers at Paul Brown Stadium, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis was asked if he puts any significance in his young team being 2-0.

“Not really,” he said. “We just need to keep being competitive. Each time, each play, each snap you are out there, keep trying to win your battle against the guy you are playing against. That is the only thing we are trying to attempt to do.”

The Bengals secondary, which will be without cornerbacks Dre Kirkpatrick, Jason Allen and Adam Jones, will get its second big test in as many weeks against a Green Bay offense that features reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.

Last week in Atlanta the Bengals allowed Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to complete 18-of-21 passes for 121 yards, but Lewis said he thought the defensive backs did a good job of keeping the action in front of them and getting the receivers on the ground as soon as they caught the ball, something that will be a focus again tonight.

“In the first part of the ballgame last week (against Atlanta), I think they completed seven balls for 21 yards,” he said. “It’s important that we continue with that. We made them check the ball down and dump the ball off quite a bit, and they threw quite a few screens. We’ll probably get a little bit of the same this week with the screens. It’ll be great to react to them and get that opportunity. That’s good work for us defensively.”

Offensively the big test will be to try to get the running game going, although the Bengals will have to do so without their top two backs in BenJarvus Green-Ellis (foot) and Bernard Scott (hand).

The team rushed for just 94 yards last week against Atlanta, 49 of which came on quarterback scrambles, and Brian Leonard and Cedric Peerman each lost a fumble.

“We have to maintain and get some consistency going in the running game,” Lewis said. “Whether created by scheme or movement, we’ve got to do that. We’ve got to be a little bit more consistent and stay on things and create some space and movement. Obviously we need to hold on to the ball. You can’t go very far if you don’t have the football.”