By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SAN DIEGO - Coach Marvin Lewis' team drove another stake Sunday through the heart of that "same old Bengals" label.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

By winning 34-27 against the Chargers, the Bengals improved to 6-5, stayed tied for first place in the AFC North, won in California for the first time since 1990 and again unleashed one of the NFL's most productive offenses on an over-matched defense.

The Bengals have won five of six games since their bye and six of eight since an 0-3 start.

The 6-2 record since Sept. 28 is the team's winningest streak since the 1996 team finished 7-2.

"This is the most games I've ever won in a season," sixth-year guard Mike Goff said, "and we've still got five games left."

All week at practice and in meetings, Lewis stressed the importance of getting ahead and playing with a lead. And the Bengals did as they were coached Sunday, jumping out to a 14-0 lead, withstanding two San Diego rallies and never trailing.

"We're grateful to get out with a victory," said Lewis, whose team continues a three-game road trip Sunday at Pittsburgh. "It's tough to win on the road any time in the NFL."

The Bengals tied a season high with the 34 points and set a new mark with 454 net yards of an almost exactly balanced offense. They had 229 yards passing and 225 yards rushing, showing off a punishing one-two punch in the ground game. Corey Dillon, coming back from an abdominal injury, rushed for 108 yards, and Rudi Johnson had another 65 yards on the ground. The Bengals have 665 rushing yards in the last three games, all victories, and the franchise's first three-game win streak since 1999.

"At this point in the season, we're fortunate we've got two fresh runners," Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said.

Chad Johnson had career highs in receptions, 10; and touchdown catches, three; and his 107 receiving yards gave him his eighth career 100-yard game.

Quarterback Jon Kitna threw a career high four touchdown passes, all in the first half, and now has 13 touchdown passes and just three interceptions in the past six games. In the six victories, Kitna has 15 touchdown passes and just one interception.

Noting that not all contributions were measured by statistics, Kitna pointed out that Peter Warrick - the star of the Kansas City game - had just two receptions but blocked well in the running game.

"We don't have the selfishness we used to have here," Kitna said. "Guys are sucking it up and doing whatever it takes to win."

Rookie wide receiver Kelley Washington had a career high five catches for 61 yards, including a nine-yarder on third down at the two-minute warning. The Bengals then ran out the clock.

"All of our skill guys had a hell of a day and did a nice job executing the game plan," Lewis said.

Though the Bengals defense didn't force a turnover for the second game in a row and allowed the 27 points, it did win the third-down battle. San Diego converted just 3-of-11 third downs and punted four times.

The biggest third-down stop came with 4:12 left in the second quarter and the ball on the Bengals 8. Doug Flutie threw incomplete for wide receiver Reche Caldwell, and the Chargers settled for a 26-yard Doug Christie field goal to pull within 14-13. The defense held the lead, and San Diego would get no closer.

"We were on the verge of blowing them out," Bengals defensive tackle John Thornton said. "But we made some plays when we had to."

Shayne Graham, now 16-of-18 on field goals, accounted for all six second-half points - the final three coming on a season-long 47-yarder that gave the Bengals a two touchdown lead at 34-20 with 5:24 remaining.

The Bengals were able to withstand San Diego's two rallies - 13 points in a row in the first half and a 14-3 run in the second half - because of their strong start.

For the third consecutive game, the Bengals scored first, this time on their first possession. Kitna threw 5 yards to Chad Johnson in the back corner of the end zone to cap a nine-play, 70-yard drive. "This is what we're capable of doing every week," said Johnson, who then was asked how the Bengals offense is. "Really good. We're good enough to play with anybody in the NFL right now."

The Bengals not only won the game but won the respect of another team. Asked if there were still a stench that comes with losing to the Bengals, Chargers tailback LaDainian Tomlinson said, "No, because this is a good team."

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