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Dillon returns to Cincinnati, Pats face Bengals

Sep 26, 2006 - 9:57 PM New England (2-1) at Cincinnati (1-2) Sunday 4:15 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Corey Dillon never had the fortune of playing for the Cincinnati Bengals when they were this good.

Dillon makes his return to Cincinnati on Sunday as a member of the New England Patriots. The Bengals' all-time leading rusher, Dillon played seven years with the franchise when it compiled a 34-78 record with no playoff appearances.

Dillon rushed for more than 1,100 yards in each of his first six NFL seasons with the Bengals and was named to the Pro Bowl three times. But following the 2003 campaign, Dillon told coach Marvin Lewis he was tired of losing and wanted to play for a winner.

Lewis eventually elevated Rudi Johnson to the starting job and Dillon was shopped in the offseason.

After winning a second Super Bowl title in three years, Patriots coach Bill Belichick pounced on the opportunity to get Dillon, sending one of his two second-round picks to Cincinnati.

In his first season with the Patriots in 2004, Dillon rushed for a franchise-record 1,635 yards in helping the franchise to a third Super Bowl title. He faced the Bengals for the first time that season, rushing for 88 yards and a touchdown in a 35-28 victory at Foxboro.

While Dillon rushed for 8,061 yards and 45 touchdowns during his tenure with the Bengals, Johnson has proved to be a worthy successor. He rushed for 2,912 yards and 24 touchdowns over the last two seasons.

Dillon has his Super Bowl ring. But now the Bengals also could call themselves legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

Last season, the Bengals won the AFC North for their first division title since 1990. They have started this season with three straight wins, and are tied with Baltimore for first place.

The Bengals made another statement last Sunday with a 28-20 victory at Pittsburgh - the defending Super Bowl champion. Carson Palmer passed for four touchdowns, including a pair to T.J. Houshmandzadeh in a 54-second span of the fourth quarter.

Palmer will be looking to get Chad Johnson involved in the game plan after the Pro Bowl receiver had just one catch for 11 yards last week.

The Patriots are coming off their first loss of the season, a 17-7 setback to Denver. Dillon left the game in the first quarter with an arm injury.

With the Patriots limited to 50 yards rushing against the Broncos, Tom Brady threw the ball 55 times, completing 31 for 320 yards and a touchdown.