By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

After setting a franchise record with 48 sacks in 2001, the Bengals entered this season with a goal of 52.

But after failing to get a sack Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, the Bengals' total stands at 12, which projects to 19 for the season.

"We're not getting the sacks and the pressure that we had," Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said Monday. "Hopefully, we can pick that up in the remaining six games. There was some pressure, but consistently, overall there was not."

Sacks isn't the only category in which the Bengals have fallen short of their goal.

The goal for 2002 was allowing 14 points per game. The reality after 10 games is 27.9, third worst in the league.

The goal for takeaways (the combination of interceptions and fumble recoveries) was 37. The Bengals have 12. The Bengals also wanted to hold opponents to 280 yards per game. So far, they have allowed 337.1.

The Bengals finished ninth in total defense last season. Their goal this year was a top-three finish, but they are 18th.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bengals' medical staff continues to work with cornerback Jeff Burris to alleviate his migraine headaches. Burris is probable for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Defensive end Vaughn Booker's knee held up, and despite a rib cage injury, he is probable. So is center Rich Braham, who tweaked his sprained ankle.

SIDELINE SPAT: Corey Dillon's fourth-quarter outburst at running backs coach Jim Anderson on Sunday was the possible result of Anderson suggesting Dillon should have run wider on two fourth-quarter goal-line runs.

The Browns stopped Dillon twice from the 1-yard line.

"It's not a big deal," LeBeau said. "Our team is fighting like heck, and the game was a tough loss. (Dillon's anger was) not (about) the right hole, but whether he could have run a little bit wider."

E-mail: mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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