Two years ago today, Corey Dillon rushed for a single-game, NFL-record 278 yards in the Bengals' 31-21 victory over the Denver Broncos.

        More important than Dillon's individual record, which stands as one of the highlights in franchise history, was the streak of solid football the Bengals played over the next 17 games under Dick LeBeau.

RECORD DAY

See the photo gallery and read the story about Corey Dillon's 278-yard game.

        Including the Denver game, the Bengals finished the 2000 season with a 4-6 record for the then-interim coach. They started 4-3 in 2001, and at their bye weekend, Nov. 4, were considered playoff contenders.

        That 8-9 mark under LeBeau might not have been regarded highly in Green Bay, Pittsburgh or Oakland, where nothing short of victory is acceptable. But in Cincinnati, an 8-9 record and being headed in the right direction were causes for celebration.

        But since rallying to win 31-27 at Detroit on Oct. 28 last year, the Bengals are 2-13. They lost seven in a row to fall out of the playoff hunt before winning their final two games of 2001.

        Now they're 0-6, ironically the same record they took into that 2000 Denver game.

        LeBeau earned his first victory as a head coach that afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium.

        “No question about that,” LeBeau said Monday when asked if that game stands out in his 30-year NFL coaching career. “I don't think that game will be surpassed for a while in the league. The total rushing yardage, and the individual game. That was a special thing.”

        As a team, the Bengals rushed for 407 yards, fifth most in league history at the time, and the most ever against a Broncos defense. Even though the Bengals had lost their first three games under LeBeau, the Denver game cemented his stance that the offense would be run-oriented.

        Bengals right guard Mike Goff was part of Dillon's record-setting afternoon in 2000. He has been there for the rise and fall of LeBeau's Bengals.

        “I think maybe somewhere along the line we got a little ahead of ourselves,” Goff said after Monday's practice. “I can speak for myself: You get so caught up in how it should be. I get caught up myself.

        “Somewhere along the line, we got so caught up in what hasn't even happened yet and let things slip away. We really had the city behind us, nothing but positive talk, and now we have this, where we have to get our heads out of the sand.”

TOP NFL RUSHING GAMES

• 1. Corey Dillon, Bengals: 278 yards vs. Denver, Nov. 11, 2000   • 2. Walter Payton, Bears: 275 yards vs. Minnestoa, Nov. 20, 1977   • 3. O. J. Simpson, Bills: 273 yards vs. Detroit, Nov. 25, 1975   • 4. Shaun Alexander, Seahawks: 266 yards vs. Oakland, Nov. 11, 2001   • 5. Mike Anderson, Broncos: 251 yards vs. New Orleans, Dec. 3, 2000

        Goff was part of the Bengals' 1998 draft class. The franchise is 17-53 since he arrived with linebackers Takeo Spikes, Brian Simmons and Steve Foley, cornerback Artrell Hawkins and defensive tackle Glen Steele.

        Goff says he and his teammates can't live in the past because they are concentrating on their next opponent, the Tennessee Titans, on Sunday.

        “It's still nice every now and again to think about what we accomplished as an offense,” he said.

        Dillon had seven runs of 20 or more yards, and he ran for touchdowns of 65 and 41 yards.

        Dillon missed practice Monday morning because of a flight problem . He arrived later in the afternoon, but wasn't available to talk about his record-setting game.

        But Goff remembers.

        “When you're watching games, like yesterday, and you see somebody else having a career game, in the back of your mind, you wish him the best of luck,” Goff said. “But you hope he gets 277 yards instead of 279. It means a lot. You know the whole offense had a hand in it, even though Corey did it.

        “Collectively, as an offense, you reached something that had been set (23) years before. That's something to be proud of.”

Dillon's record gave Bengals false hope Bengals Notebook: Germaine gets Boomer's No. 7 Steelers 28, Colts 10 Titans' Rolle fined for headhunting Marino's sales pitch sends Carter to Miami NFL Notebook: Favre won't miss start

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