INDIANAPOLIS — Two quarters into Sunday's game, Dick LeBeau turned his back to the field and walked toward the Bengals' bench. The coach ignored Mike Vanderjagt's second extra-point kick, the Colts' 14-0 lead and the loud crowd at the RCA Dome.

        He needed to set something straight with Corey Dillon. LeBeau knelt by his running back, spoke earnestly and patted Dillon's leg.

        “He said not to give up,” Dillon said. “He said, "We're still in this.”'

        Late in the second quarter, Dillon scored his first touchdown of the season, a 2-yard run. In the third quarter, Dillon blazed a 67-yard touchdown trail — the fourth-longest rushing TD of his career.

        It wasn't much, Dillon said. After all, the Bengals still lost to the Colts 28-21 and dropped to 0-5. But it was a start.

        “If we come out and play like we played this game, we'll be all right,” Dillon said. “We went out there and fought. We fought for four quarters — and that's the team I know.”

        The most recent time Dillon scored two TDs in one game was Jan.6 in a season-ending 23-21 win at Tennessee. Until Sunday, Dillon hadn't scored since.

        Whether it was LeBeau's pep talk or Dillon's will, Bengals right offensive tackle Willie Anderson said the offense was finally able to improve its productivity.

        “It was definitely a jolt of energy for all of us,” he said.

        Dillon rushed 23 times for 164 yards and caught six passes for 21 yards.

        Although he broke James Brooks' all-time leading rushing record against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, Dillon only averaged 61 yards per game in the Bengals' first four losses. He entered the season with a career-average 79.6 yards per game.

        Quarterback Jon Kitna's passing efficiency, coupled with stronger blocking, put less pressure on Dillon, who helped the Bengals score their most points in a game this season.

        Blocking fullback Lorenzo Neal was ecstatic about Dillon's performance, especially the 67-yard run. Neal put a bear hug on teammate Brandon Bennett after Dillon darted into the end zone.

        “It was great,” Neal said. “Great running, great blocking up front, great execution. We have one of the best and well-respected running backs in the league, and it's frustrating when he's not able to run the ball because the team falls so far behind.”

        An ailing Bengals offense and aggressive opposing defenses have taken Dillon out of previous games. LeBeau said the ground game is surfacing, thanks to patience.

        “If everyone keeps working — with the runners we've got — the running game will go,” LeBeau said. “We can run the ball.”

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