While the Bengals have the top-ranked rushing game in the NFL, their passing game is the lowest rated.

        Cincinnati has only 75 net yards passing — minus yardage lost on sacks — in the last two games.

        The Bengals' average of 111.1 passing yards a game is 31st in the 31-team league, where the average is 209.6.

        “We like to throw the ball effectively,” coach Dick LeBeau said Monday. “We have to get the passing game more productive. That's one of our goals.”

        Quarterback Akili Smith played on an injured left knee Sunday in Cleveland and was 7-of-20 passing for 84 yards. He did throw the ball well, and at least five of his passes were dropped — two by Peter Warrick and one each by Tony McGee, Marco Battaglia and Corey Dillon.

        “We're going to work on it,” LeBeau said of the dropped passes. “We're not going to take anything for granted. If a couple extra catching drills can help us, we're going to stay out until the sun goes down.”

        Smith took a cortisone shot in his left knee at halftime in order to stay in the game, a sign of leadership that LeBeau admired and Monday called “a milestone in the life of a young quarterback who realized the team expects him to run the huddle and run the team. He did an excellent job of keeping the tempo of the offense going.”

        In eight games, Smith is 83-of-195 passing (43 percent) for 919 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions. At 49.9, his rating is the lowest of the 16 quarterbacks rated in the AFC.

        NO CHANGE: Tom Donahoe, the former Steelers director of football operations, is the subject of rumors. Fox Sports said on its pregame show Sunday that Donahoe would like to come to Cincinnati to be general manager.

        Bengals President Mike Brown had no comment Sunday about Donahoe.

        Donahoe told a Bengals employee late Sunday that reports of him joining any NFL front office now are “speculation. ... I know my name is going to be mentioned because I'm out there,” he said. “But there's nothing to this stuff. If something is going to happen, it's going to happen after the season, not in October.”

        Donahoe is credited for helping to build the fine teams in Pittsburgh who seemed to always regenerate after heavy personnel losses to free agency.

        PATIENCE PAYS: Featured back Dillon continues to thrive in LeBeau's run-first offense.

        Dillon averaged about 13 attempts in the first three games with Bruce Coslet as coach. Under LeBeau, Dillon gets the ball 20 times a game and has responded by averaging more than 131 yards in the past five games. Dillon has rushed 142 times for 738 yards, seventh most in the NFL.

        “In running the football, you have to be patient,” LeBeau said. “You're going to have some plays that gain a yard. You have plays that lose a yard. Then you're going to have plays that break.”

        Dillon had 137 yards on 27 carries Sunday in the 12-3 victory at Cleveland. Seven of those carries went for one yard or less and netted minus-eight yards. That means Dillon ran 20 times for 145 yards.

        Against Denver the week before, Dillon had 22 rushes for a league-record 278 yards, but 10 of those carries went for one yard or less for a minus-two net. Against the Broncos, Dillon ran 12 times for 280 yards.

        INJURY REPORT: Left tackle John Jackson (hamstring) is doubtful for Sunday's game against Baltimore. Safety JoJuan Armour (toe) is questionable.

        Smith (knee), Dillon (calf), fullback Clif Groce (knee) and center Rich Braham (knee) are probable. Braham, who started the first two games, has missed six in a row but said he expects to start against the Ravens. Brock Gutierrez has started every game in Braham's absence.

Bengals look to settle score Sellout not expected Last in passing, best in rushing Said the Ravens: Can we score?

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