Willie Anderson hoists Corey Dillon after a fourth-quarter TD. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        As a rookie, Corey Dillon broke Jim Brown's single-game rookie rushing record. On Sunday, the Bengals running back overtook another immortal in the record book, rushing for 278 yards to better Walter Payton's single-game rushing mark of 275 yards.

        Dillon ran 22 times for a 12.6-yard average and two touchdowns. Now he's in the record book alongside players he grew up emulating.

        “There were lots of players,” he said. “Jim Brown, Tony Dorsett, Walter Payton and others. I tried to take a little of what each had and form my own style. They have proven their careers. I'm not in their league yet. I just have to keep doing what I'm doing and hopefully end up in the Hall of Fame, where they are.''

Corey Dillon beats John Mobley to the end zone for his second TD. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Dillon had five runs of 30 or more yards. He ran for 31, 37, 30, 65 and 41 yards, the last two touchdowns that helped Cincinnati get and maintain a 10-point lead.

        Broncos defenders were not happy, but congratulated Dillon.

        “It's embarrassing. You might as well take a dagger and rip your heart out and throw it on the ground and stomp on it,” linebacker Bill Romanowski said.

        Said defensive tackle Mike Lodish, “Corey Dillon, congratulations. Dillon's a player, and we knew that coming into the game. The guy's a Pro Bowler who had a career day on us.”

        The Bengals are 15-40 since drafting Dillon before the 1997 season. When he has a big running game, the Bengals usually win:

        • They are 2-0 when Dillon gets 200-plus yards.

        • They are 6-0 when he gains 125 or more.

        • They are 8-7 when he gets 100-plus yards.

        • And when Dillon has 22 or more rushing attempts, Cincinnati is 11-3.

        With his 278 yards against Denver, Dillon has two of the top six individual rushing games in NFL history. His previous high was 246 yards against Tennessee in 1997, when he broke Brown's rookie record.

        Dillon thanked his offensive linemen after the game and plans to thank them again this week.

        “Yeah, I think I'm going to have to spend a game check on them,” he said. “I'm going to take everybody out (for dinner). I have to show my appreciation and take them all out.”

        The offensive line shared in Dillon's record.

        “The rushing record is something every back and lineman dreams of reaching,” offensive tackle Willie Anderson said. “To get 200 yards is something that is so hard to reach in the beginning that when he reached 275 you have to just watch in amazement.”

        Because of an anemic passing game, Bengals opponents had been stacking up against the run. Dillon had only one 100-yard rushing game, against Miami, and had run for 95 yards against Tennessee; 80 of those yards came on a touchdown run.

        Dillon came into the game with only 323 yards on 93 attempts this season. But Sunday's record-setting game gives him 601 yards in seven games and improves his average carry from 3.5 to 5.3 yards.

        Dillon thought the breakout game was coming.

        “The last three weeks we have played some pretty good games, and we keep getting better,” he said.

        Dillon also reached a personal milestone Sunday, going over 4,000 yards for his career. He has 4,060 yards in three-plus seasons. He has 1,100 or more yards in each of his three full seasons.

Record-Breaking Day! Gallery of 20 photos Dillon runs 'til they drop Dillon does his heroes one better Warrick relieved to win again Defense does its part Mitchell's play: run and stun Bengals favored to beat Browns Fans: 'It's about time' Bengals-Broncos Statistics

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