After a slow start, the Bengals’ running game is gaining traction behind new faces and a familiar technique as they head to Buffalo for Sunday’s game (1 p.m.-Cincinnati’s FOX 19) against the Bills.

That just happens to be the home of Jim McNally, the Bengals’ Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive line coach. Which works out nicely since McNally is the man who invented “Duo,” the double-team concept that has been a popular Bengals’ run play as of late.

McNally, who enthusiastically endorsed first-year offensive line coach Scott Peters for the job before the season, came up with the scheme in the early ’90s with tight ends coach Mike Pope when they were with the Bengals. McNally then went on the road to teach it at his ubiquitous O-line clinics, where Peters, one of his players with the Giants and devout disciple, no doubt saw it again.

Basically, it’s a power play without pulling the guard and can allow two double teams on the same play, and as many as three. Let right guard Dalton Risner tell you why the current Bengals linemen love it.

“A lot of double teams,” Risner said after Wednesday’s practice. “It’s a downhill play. It’s a play you don’t waste any time in the backfield. You’re not going out, you’re not going lateral. You get the ball, and you’re going downfield, we’re getting downhill. We’re able to use those combos to work up. It’s a technique we’ve gotten better at.”

In the last eight games, the Bengals have rushed for five yards per carry, their biggest average over that many games in seven years. The biggest beneficiary has been running back Chase Brown, who has racked up 5.5 yards per attempt in that stretch, the most by a Bengals back with more than 100 attempts across eight games since Jeremy Hill 11 years ago.

“Continuity. We’re starting to gel together,” Risner said. “We’re working together, grinding together. We’re buying in on what we’re doing. I think Chase and the running backs are running their asses off. The tight ends are blocking hard. Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, the wide receivers are blocking their asses off.

“I think we’re just starting to impose our will as an offensive line and buying in on what we’re getting taught.”

They’ve also received a lift from Risner, the estimable seven-year vet they inked ten days before the opener, a signing that has become as fortuitous as advertised when it happened.

Risner was Joe Flacco a month before Joe Flacco. When starting right guard Lucas Patrick went down 16 snaps into the opener, Risner was pressed into service and started the next week against Jacksonville before suffering the first benching of his career.

But by the time rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild couldn’t go in week six in Green Bay, Risner had his feet under him. He played well in those next two games, including the Thursday night win over Pittsburgh. Fairchild came back, but when rookie right guard Jalen Rivers couldn’t go against the Patriots, Risner has started the last two, including another Thursday night win in Baltimore, and it looks like he’ll stay in there after starting four of the last seven games.