By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Tailback Corey Dillon remained listed as doubtful Thursday but practiced for the first time in almost two weeks.

Defensive tackle John Thornton (back) was added to the official injury report as probable but did not practice. The only other players not to practice were tight end Reggie Kelly (foot) and cornerback Jeff Burris (concussion). They both are out for the Kansas City game Sunday, but Kelly was walking without crutches for the first time since his Oct. 26 injury.

Chiefs right tackle John Tait (ankle) doesn't look as if he'll play, but backup Marcus Spears started 11 games at that position in 2001.

CBS EYES BENGALS: Former NFL running back Marcus Allen, who works for CBS, visited Paul Brown Stadium and conducted interviews with wide receivers Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick, tailback Rudi Johnson and others that are expected to air Sunday.

GETTING OFFENSIVE: Kansas City is first in points scored (31.9 a game) and third in yards gained (359.9 a game).

Asked how he would work against his offense, Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said, "I have some thoughts, but I'm sure as (heck) not going to share them with you. ... First off, we have some areas that are stronger than others, but we don't have a weakness. And that makes it very good from an offensive game-plan standpoint."

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: Football writers are coming from newspapers in Baltimore, Atlanta, Washington and Dallas for Sunday's game, and ESPN is sending an 11-person crew. PR director Jack Brennan said the credential list is longer than those for the previous 29 games at Paul Brown Stadium.

TURNOVER TERRORS: The Chiefs lead the NFL at plus-18 in turnover ratio, widening their overall lead since the start of the 1990 season. They are plus-159 the past 13-plus seasons.

The Bengals are 29th at minus-55 and have finished with a minus number in each of the past five years. Vermeil noted the change in ratio for the Bengals and credited coach Marvin Lewis for taking a first step toward winning.

"They're not turning the ball over and doing high-risk gambling things which can hang your defense out to dry," Vermeil said. "Defensively, they've taken the ball away some. The offense hasn't given the ball away. So they're plus-3 in turnovers."

Vermeil also noted that the Chiefs were 4-5 - as the Bengals are now - after nine games in 2002. "Our first year (2001), we were 2-7," he said. "Right now, we're 9-0."

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