FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) Corey Dillon learned coach Bill Belichick's system quickly hit the open holes and keep your mouth shut.
The New England Patriots star running back politely declined to talk about facing the team he was happy to leave, the Cincinnati Bengals. Teammates who did speak about his attitude toward Sunday's game didn't say much more.
''I have no idea. Go up and ask him,'' tight end Christian Fauria said. ''I'm sure he'll give you a great answer, probably a company answer.''
Belichick, the head of the company, doesn't like his players to focus on individual issues like Dillon vs. Cincinnati. They follow his advice off and on the field and can clinch a playoff berth by beating the Bengals. They also can wrap up the AFC East title with a win and a loss by the New York Jets to Pittsburgh.
But Belichick can't control the Bengals' comments, and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh knows it's not just another game for Dillon, one of his closest friends when they were teammates.
''I know he's excited to play, just from talking to him'' after last Sunday's games, Houshmandzadeh said. ''He wanted out of here but he felt like they got rid of him.''
The Patriots are 11-1 and Dillon has been a major part of their success since spending seven seasons in Cincinnati where he often was at odds with management.
''I failed to win Corey over, to be totally committed to being a Cincinnati Bengal. That's my fault. Other than that, I have no regrets,'' Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. ''Corey is there now and let's leave it at that.''
Dillon is fourth in the NFL with 1,221 yards rushing and probably will break his season-high of 1,435 in 2000, a Bengals team record. But they don't miss him because Rudi Johnson has rushed for 1,105 yards and can break Dillon's team mark.
With the second-round draft pick it obtained for Dillon, Cincinnati picked up free safety Madieu Williams, who is their fourth leading tackler and has three interceptions.
''He has been tremendous,'' Lewis said. ''It was a great deal for both teams.''
The Bengals (6-6) are back in the playoff race after winning four of their last five games. Last Sunday, they rallied from a 20-3 deficit after three quarters for a 27-26 win at Baltimore.
''It will give us a little boost this week going into this game, giving us some confidence going up against one of the top teams in the league,'' quarterback Carson Palmer said.
Belichick has reminded his players that they lost to the Bengals 31-3 this year in a preseason game.
''We all remember it very well. They really gave it to us last time,'' tight end Daniel Graham said. ''We try to win all our games, preseason or not.''
But Palmer doesn't think that matters because both teams have changed since then.
''I think coach Belichick is really just using that as a motivational thing,'' Palmer said. ''You have to find something when you have won 17 (straight) games at home and won so many games over the past couple of years.''
Belichick also has emphasized the Bengals' ability to force fumbles, 31 so far this year.
''A lot of times the ball just doesn't land on the ground,'' he said. ''They pull it out and it flies 10, 15 yards away from the runner. They are very aware of it and they do a good job.''
They also make big passing plays with receivers Chad Johnson and Houshmandzadeh. Starting Patriots cornerbacks Ty Law and Tyrone Poole are both expected to remain sidelined.
''These guys make big plays in every game,'' Belichick said. ''It's no one-game wonder. (Kelley) Washington, you need to throw him right in there too, because he makes a lot of plays.''
But the Patriots have scored first in their last 17 games and have won 26 of their last 27. The Super Bowl champs even can clinch a playoff berth with a loss if Baltimore or Denver loses or Pittsburgh beats the Jets.
Reaching the postseason would be a first for Dillon, whose best record with Cincinnati was 8-8. He complained about his lack of carries last season but, since the trade, has stressed that winning games is more important.
In last Sunday's 42-15 win at Cleveland he rushed for 100 yards, the seventh time he's had at least 100 in his last eight games. Afterward, he made it clear he would not be talking about facing his old team.
''No Cincinnati questions,'' Dillon said. ''I'm not worried about that. It is what it is.''
For Cincinnati, it's simply about stopping one of the NFL's best runners.
'' We know what style of runner he is,'' Bengals safety Kevin Kaesviharn said. ''. We know what we're getting into with him. I think it's to our advantage that we know him so well.''
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