By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Bengals rushed for 240 yards in Sunday's 20-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints, their highest total since Dec.3, 2000, when they had 292 yards against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Bengals are now 53-9 as a franchise when rushing for 200 or more yards in a game.

Corey Dillon led the Bengals with 126 yards on 18 carries, his fifth 100-yard rushing game this season and the 27th of his six-year career. But it was his first 100-yard game since Game 9 at Baltimore.

Dillon now has 1,258 rushing yards this season, his fourth in a row with 1,200 or more. He fumbled twice but recovered one.

Nicolas Luchey had 59 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Bengals, and Brandon Bennett added 58 yards.

Dillon bruised his elbow and didn't return after a 15-yard run early in the fourth quarter. He is probable for Sunday's game at Buffalo.

Bennett hurt his ribs and also wasn't available in the fourth quarter. He is questionable for the Bills game.

OTHER INJURIES: Bengals safety Mark Roman (knee) and cornerback LaVar Glover (hamstring) also are questionable for the Buffalo game. Receiver Ron Dugans (Achilles' tendon) and center Rich Braham (ankle) are probable.

DEFENSE RISES: The 13 points allowed by the Bengals was their second-lowest number of the season. They allowed three in their other victory this season at Houston.

The Saints scored 10 of their 13 points and gained 158 of their 210 yards in the first quarter.

JONES REBOUNDS: Bengals rookie left tackle Levi Jones had one of his roughest days as a pro. He gave up two sacks to New Orleans defensive end Charles Grant and was called for a false-start penalty in the first half.

But Jones, like the rest of the Bengals' offensive line, took control of the game in the second half. The Bengals had possession for 24 minutes, 49 seconds after halftime.

Jones pushed Luchey into the end zone on his first TD.

"The sacks gave me fuel," Jones said. "I channeled the anger. I was able to calm down and focus."

SACK PACK: The Bengals had a single-game high four sacks against the Saints.

Defensive end Justin Smith had two, giving him seven for the season. The other two were credited as team sacks.

Smith, who had 8.5 sacks as a rookie, has 15.5 in his career.

Smith was engaged in a heated battle with New Orleans left tackle Kyle Turley, noted as one of the NFL's most aggressive players.

"He's a great competitor. He gives 100 percent every play," Smith said of Turley. "He plays the game the way it's supposed to be played."

CHAD'S 1,000: Bengals receiver Chad Johnson caught four passes for 47 yards, giving him 63 catches and 1,043 yards this season. He also had four penalties called on him - two for illegal motion, and one each for holding and for not having his shoulders squared to the line of scrimmage.

vPETE'S BACK: Bengals receiver Peter Warrick didn't play last week because of bruised lungs, but he came back Sunday and had a big game.

Warrick led the Bengals with seven receptions for 71 yards. He also had a 30-yard touchdown catch and carry in the first quarter. Warrick broke three tackles and dragged Saints cornerback Fred Thomas into the end zone.

Warrick's TD reception was his seventh, and he now has 50 receptions for 579 yards. He has had at least 50 receptions in each of his three seasons.

PANTHER PRIDE: Elder's Division I state championship football team was introduced on the field during a break in the first quarter.

Several Bengals offensive players standing in their huddle applauded the high school team.

SAINTS STUFF: Michael Lewis' 98 return yards give him 2,231 for the season, a new NFL record. Lewis passed the 2,187 return yards by Arizona's MarTay Jenkins in 2000.

Aaron Brooks' first-quarter touchdown pass to Donte' Stallworth was Brooks' 27th of the season, breaking the franchise record of 26 that Brooks (2001) shared with Jim Everett (1995).

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com