CLEVELAND — Going on six seasons now, Corey Dillon's success running the ball is a harbinger of the Bengals' success. Against no team does the Dillon barometer read more accurately than the Browns.

Corey Dillon runs against the Browns last season. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        After giving him just nine carries for 10 yards last week against the Chargers — his least number of attempts in the past 40 games — the Bengals are looking for Dillon to carry the load today at Cleveland.

        Dillon has a 123.5-yard average in six career games against the Browns.

        Only the Rams' Marshall Faulk, among active running backs in five or more games, has had more consistent success against one team than Dillon's performance versus the Browns.

        Dillon has excelled in the Bengals' four victories against Cleveland, boasting a 159-yard rushing average and five rushing touchdowns.

        In the two losses, he has been held to a 52-yard average and no touchdowns.

        Dillon knows the Browns will pack the line of scrimmage just for him.

        “I've been dealing with it for five years going on six,” he said. “We know they're going to be there. Big deal. Let's just go out and get it done.”

        The Browns' defense was worse than the Bengals' in the season opener. Kansas City's Priest Holmes ran for 122 yards and four touchdowns as the Chiefs gained 470 yards.

        “I think (Dillon) is looking at this game to get well, and I wouldn't blame him after watching the film and seeing what we did last week,” Browns cornerback Corey Fuller said. “I would tell them to load the bus right now.”

        Dillon did watch the film of the Browns' 40-39 loss to the Chiefs.

        “The offensive line got a man on a man, got some movement, gave him something to work with, and Priest made the most of it,” Dillon said. “Cleveland played them pretty honest.”

        Honest defenses — balanced defenses that have to respect the pass — are something Dillon has seen infrequently in the past few seasons. Defenses have put eight or nine players on the middle of the line of scrimmage to stop him, daring the Bengals to throw the ball over their heads.

        Those line-stacking defenses do provide an opportunity.

        “There's more room for errors, cutbacks, gaps,” Dillon said. “Last week it just wasn't there. I've been there before, nine-man fronts. Guys blitzing, blitzing safeties, bringing the kitchen sink. And we've still run the ball.”

        Dillon and the rest of the offense, he said, have put the San Diego game behind them.

        Giving the ball to Dillon was the game plan. The Chargers took it away and took a big lead.

        “We got behind 20-3, and we really couldn't run our base offense,” Bengals left tackle Richmond Webb said. “We had to go more with the situation with four wide receivers. Everybody knows if we get Corey running that everybody feeds off him.”

        Including opponents, who respect the way Dillon plays the game by running hard on every down.

        “I love the way he plays,” Fuller said. “He isn't trying to rub it in your face. He's going to get into the end zone and he's going to drop the ball. He's got a throwback attitude for scoring TDs and all that stuff.”

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