By Kevin Kelly and Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

CLEVELAND - The pain from a strained groin proved too much for Corey Dillon on Sunday.

The Bengals tailback, who injured his groin in Week 3, was limited to four carries for 20 yards in the first half against the Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

"If you looked at me out there running, it just wasn't good," Dillon said.

The groin injury and a hyper-extended knee in a Week 2 loss against Oakland have limited Dillon's touches.

In four games, he has rushed 44 times for 164 yards and one touchdown.

"I'm just going to get myself healthy," Dillon said. "I'm not going to contribute to this team unless I'm 100 percent."

Asked whether he would be able to play in Buffalo on Sunday, Dillon said he was doubtful.

The Bengals are off the following weekend.

"The most disappointing thing about it is I can't be out there with my boys," he said.

OFFSIDES: The Bengals defense committed seven unforced penalties along the line of scrimmage, six in the first half.

On the Browns' second possession, the Bengals were called for offside penalties on four plays - three in a span of seven plays. The offenders were tackle Tony Williams, end Duane Clemons (2) and cornerback Artrell Hawkins. The last penalty nullified a Bengals fumble recovery.

The Bengals defense then committed two line-of-scrimmage penalties on the Browns' second scoring drive. One was lining up in the neutral zone, the other a defensive delay of game.

FIRSTS: The 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jon Kitna to Chad Johnson in the first quarter was the first red-zone touchdown allowed by the Browns in nine possessions this season. It also was the first touchdown pass allowed by the Browns this year.

Kitna and Johnson hooked up on a 55-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds left in the second quarter. Kitna, who took a helmet to the leg late in the fourth quarter and was hobbling after the game, also threw 1 yard to Reggie Kelly in the third quarter. Kitna's three touchdown passes are his second best with the Bengals. He had four TD passes last year at Houston.

Kitna was 23-for-31 passing for 215 yards and has 939 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions for the season.

TIM'S DAY: Couch, the former UK quarterback, made his first start of the season for the injured Kelly Holcomb.

Couch threw for 280 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He surpassed 10,000 career passing yards (10,092) and ranks fifth in Browns history.

"If Kelly's healthy, it's his job," Couch said. "I'm not upset with my performance other than the last throw."

MR. THIRD DOWN: Rookie wide receiver Kelley Washington made two significant catches on the Bengals' first drive of the second half. Washington caught passes of 11 and 17 yards. Both were on third down and kept the Bengals driving toward the game-winning touchdown.

"It felt good that (Kitna) was looking my way," Washington said.

TWO MORE SACKS: The Bengals defensive line added its third and fourth sacks of the season at the end of Sunday's game.

Williams sacked Couch with 3:16 remaining in the fourth quarter. Defensive end Justin Smith sacked Couch on the Browns' next drive, their final drive of the game.

HELPING OUT: With Matt Schobel nursing a sore hamstring, Tony Stewart filled in as the Bengals' backup tight end.

Stewart caught five passes for 56 yards.

INACTIVES: Bengals inactive players Sunday were cornerback Dennis Weathersby, linebackers Riall Johnson and Keyon Whiteside, guard Victor Leyva, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Schobel and defensive end Elton Patterson.

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