Oddly, Carl Pickens' absence may have helped the Bengals' offense.
Pickens, Cincinnati's best wide receiver, pulled a groin muscle midway through the first quarter and left the game.
But this could have altered Jacksonville's defensive strategy. Without Pickens, the Jaguars seldom double-covered any of the Bengals' receivers, as they would have done with Pickens.
''That opened up a lot of throwing lanes to the back side,'' said Bengals wide receiver James Hundon, who replaced Pickens and caught three passes for 25 yards. ''A lot of passes I caught, 'Pick' probably would not have caught if they would have double-teamed him.''
Flu almost sacked Esiason
Boomer Esiason endured some anxious moments Saturday night when he fell ill with a case of stomach flu.
''I almost didn't make it to the stadium today,'' he said. ''I really felt bad.''
But a good night's sleep helped cure him. ''I was really worried about how I was going to wake up and feel, and it went away,'' Esiason said.
Esiason's two touchdown passes Sunday gave him 238 for his career, breaking a tie for 13th place with George Blanda on the NFL's all-time list.
Early
offense
The Bengals' 28 first-half points were their highest output before intermission since Sept. 23, 1990, when they scored 31 in a 41-7 victory over New England.
That wasn't the offense's only achievement:
Cincinnati's first-half total was the highest Jacksonville has allowed before intermission in its three-season history. Cincinnati's 97-yard, 18-play drive in the second quarter was its longest of the season.
Scott's drought ends
Darnay Scott's 11-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter ended the wide receiver's seven-game scoring drought.
His only other touchdown this year came in Cincinnati's fourth game, on a 26-yard pass from Jeff Blake against the New York Jets.
Praise for blockers
Corey Dillon gave the credit for his 88-yard output to the Bengals' offensive line. ''They're up there working hard,'' said Dillon, who has gained 386 yards in the last four games.
Fullback Brian Milne also helped create several holes. ''He takes care of me back there,'' Dillon said.
Dillon and Ki-Jana Carter each ran for scores, increasing the Bengals' total of rushing touchdowns this season to 15. They began the game tied in that category with Pittsburgh and San Francisco. Jacksonville, which had a league-high 16 rushing touchdowns, added Natrone Means' 5-yard scoring run in the third quarter.
On the corner
Jimmy Spencer started at right cornerback after a four-game benching but was replaced by Tito Paul in the third quarter. That came after Spencer received a disputed 45-yard pass interference penalty.
''The game was kind of tilting back to them and we were trying to get a different mix in there,'' defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said.
Injury report
Wide receiver David Dunn, who suffered a groin injury, is probable for next Sunday's game at Philadelphia.
Game story
Boomer plays for crowd of one Paul Daugherty column
Could Boomer be the future? Tim Sullivan column
Pickens' season may be over
Esiason shows Blake power of suggestion
Family shares Boomer's big day
Defense bends but doesn't break
Game statistics
Next: Eagles
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