Dillon Climbs to New Heights

Making the playoffs is becoming a habit for most of the New England Patriots. For Corey Dillon, the day finally arrived.

They clinched a berth Sunday for the third time in four years, beating the team Dillon left after seven seasons in which he feuded with management.

“First time in eight years? I’ll take that,” Dillon said after running for 88 yards and a touchdown in New England’s 35-28 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. “But I didn’t get there by myself.”

He had plenty of help from two-time Super Bowl most valuable player Tom Brady, who threw two touchdown passes, and a defense that forced two turnovers inside the Patriot 20-yard line and a third that was returned for a touchdown that made it 21-7.

New England (12-1) locked up the AFC East title when Pittsburgh beat the New York Jets.

“We are excited about that,” safety Rodney Harrison said. “We will enjoy this victory for a day or two.”

By then, Patriot offensive coordinator Charlie Weis will have been introduced as coach of Notre Dame, replacing the fired Tyrone Willingham. Weis flew to South Bend, Ind., after the game and agreed to a six-year deal to coach the Fighting Irish. A news conference is set for today.

The Patriots let the Bengals back in the game when Jon Kitna’s 27-yard pass to Kelley Washington made the score 35-28 with 3 minutes 50 seconds left. But Brady and the offense ran out the clock.

The Patriots got their 27th win in 28 games, including last season’s Super Bowl.

Carson Palmer threw two touchdown passes for the Bengals (6-7) before leaving in the third quarter because of a sprained knee.

“I felt a little pop,” said Palmer, who used crutches after the game. “I should be OK to play.”

Brady completed 18 of 26 passes for 260 yards.

The Patriots scored first for the 18th consecutive regular-season game, an NFL record, on Dillon’s one-yard run in their first series.

“I approached it like I approached every other game,” Dillon said. “I’m pretty sure everybody’s sitting here waiting for me to say something wild and negative about Cincinnati. It’s not going to happen. I respect those guys.”