By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sunday was Rudi Johnson's turn in the spotlight, which shined its brightest when he walked untouched into the end zone on a 1-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown that gave the Bengals the lead for good.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

Yet, as the third-year tailback ran wild Sunday, two rookies who paved the way for that score were shining in his shadow.

Left guard Eric Steinbach pulled from the left side and sealed two defenders around right end, and fullback Jeremi Johnson made the other key block on the play. Those two players, coming of age as starters, are as critical as any for the improving Bengal offense.

"We have one-on-ones sometimes and talk - about being a rookie and how we have to get it done," Steinbach said of Jeremi Johnson. "He had some clutch plays today and I was able to do my job, too."

Steinbach and Johnson have started every game this season, and their improvement mirrors the team's results. The Bengals are 4-2 since an 0-3 start.

Johnson, who had totaled three carries before Sunday, rushed five times for 6 yards - including a 1-yard run for his first career TD - and caught a 3-yard pass.

He also acted as a key blocker, teaming with Steinbach and the rest of the line to fuel a day when the team totaled 240 rushing yards.

"This was the most we ran the ball all season, and they've been preparing me for it mentally all season," Johnson said of his coaches.

Convention wisdom didn't figure to see Cincinnati run this much. The Texans were ranked No. 30 against the run and No. 22 against the pass.

Yet the coaches talked all week of establishing the run.

"For an offensive lineman, this is what you live for," Steinbach said. "It's fine passing it down the field, but running right at teams is the most exciting game."

Steinbach, a second-round pick from Iowa, said the learning curve continues.

"Every week I screw up on a play, and I say, 'Man, that's the first time that's shown up,' " he said. "So I come to the sidelines, I talk to (line coach) Paul Alexander, and he coaches me through it."

Johnson's biggest moment came on third-and-goal from the 1 midway through the second quarter. Texans nose tackle Steve Martin met him in the backfield, but Johnson kept churning and carried Martin into the end zone.

"I was just determined. I wanted it bad," Johnson said. "When the opportunity's there, you've got to go get it."

Johnson, a fourth-round pick from Western Kentucky, knows his role now is an unsung one.

Johnson and Steinbach both said they relished the 182-yard day Rudi Johnson had.

"Rudi has been hot," Steinbach said. "When he gets it, he hits it hard and runs downhill. It's a lot of fun blocking for him."

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