Bengals Bytes (10/28): Float on

TDBH: Bengals go the distance on Dillon’s longest scrimmage play in team annals
Bengals Pro Bowl running back Corey Dillon makes history economically and punctually. Last year in game seven he needs just 22 carries to break Walter Payton's NFL single-game rushing record with 278 yards. On today’s first play of a 31-27 win over the Lions in game seven, Dillon rips off a 96-yard touchdown run on a lead draw that is still the Bengals' longest offensive play ever, besting Ken Anderson’s 94-yard throw to Billy Brooks in 1977. When Dillon lines up behind fullback Lorenzo Neal in his own end zone, he needs 86 yards to pass Pete Johnson for second place on the Bengals' all-time rushing list.

Casanova takes his bow
Tommy Casanova still purrs with the Bayou and the 1970s at 67 years young, a three-time Pro Bowl safety that gave field vision new meaning when he retired at age 27 on the eve of the Bengals’ 1978 training camp to become an eye surgeon. “Oh yeah,” Casanova says this week when asked if he’s still operating in his hometown of Crowley. La. “What ya got? We’ll cut it off.”

Bengals vs. Colts Game Notes
The Cincinnati Bengals return home this weekend to take on the Indianapolis Colts at Paul Brown Stadium. And though both teams head into the game in very similar situations, they are likely to walk away from it with much different prospects. Both Cincinnati and Indianapolis have just a pair of wins through Week 7, and both teams are coming off losses to division rivals last week, with the Bengals (2-4) suffering a 29-14 loss at Pittsburgh and the Colts (2-5) falling 27-0 at home to Jacksonville. And both, undoubtedly, are eyeing Sunday’s matchup as an opportunity to right their respective ships.

Top 50 Moments: Anthony Munoz Inducted into Hall of Fame
As he did during his brilliant 13-year NFL career and later in his even more accomplished life as a spiritual and community leader, Anthony Munoz reaches out to others on the day he becomes the first Bengal inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Aug. 1 is always steamy in Canton, Ohio and this one in 1998 is no different as Munoz turns up the emotion with a vintage performance of humility and grace.

Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation's 'Night in the Jungle' Raises $30,000
The Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation played host to more than 500 fans at its first ever Night in the Jungle event at Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday, October 26. The Foundation raised $30,000 through ticket sales, silent and live auctions, and general donations. “JJ and I wanted to add a family-friendly event to our Fundraiser to allow more people to join our mission,” shared Andy Dalton. “It seems like each year we’ve been blessed in that we can add something new and try different events and programs with our Foundation. We’re thrilled to add this to our lineup and meet more fans as they enjoy a casual night on the field with their families.”

When NFL players recover, some turn to 'floating' instead of sleeping
It's around 9 p.m. on a Friday night and Cincinnati Bengals rookie Carl Lawson has just made the 30-minute drive to West Chester, Ohio. With just a few days before the Bengals' game against the Steelers, Lawson has one more item left in his weekly routine. To prepare for the upcoming matchup, Lawson first must find a way to take his mind off the game itself.

Cincinnati Bengals CB Adam Jones will attempt to play through fracture in back
Bengals cornerback Adam Jones has a transverse fracture in his back that caused him to miss last week's game against the Steelers, according to a source. Jones practiced this week and will attempt to play through the injury. He attempted to play through it after injuring his back against the Bills but eventually had to leave the game.

Bengals first-rounder John Ross, now healthy, has a lot to prove on Sunday
The Cincinnati Bengals have seen their first-round pick John Ross play a total of five snaps this season. Ross's debut in Week 2, already pushed back by a preseason injury, was short-lived after he re-injured his knee just a few plays into a loss to the Texans. Now Ross is healthy enough to play against the Colts on Sunday, and it couldn't come at a better time. The Bengals (2-4), are already down two receivers after Cody Core and Tyler Boyd were declared out on Friday.

AFC North Bytes

The Internal Steelers Struggle: Week 8 vs. the Lions
Me (rational), Myself (nonsensical and homerrific) and I (dumber than ketchup on a Jolly Rancher) are back for their weekly chat. Today, they talk about the Steelers’ win over the Bengals, and who is the best team in the NFL. If you’ve been here before, you already know how this will turn out. If you haven’t...well...you’ll see.

Sleepy Browns given green light by Hue Jackson to enjoy London -- on his terms
The Browns chose to arrive in London Friday morning after an overnight flight of about 7 ½ hours. (The Vikings arrived a day earlier.) The team’s wide-body charter had a few special seats that reclined into beds to accommodate sleep. But veteran players got dibs on those prime seats. Which means that DeShone Kizer, the rookie starting quarterback, had to make do stretching across a row of empty seats to catch some winks.

Terrell Suggs: We got back to playing Ravens football
In the days leading up to Thursday night’s game, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said the Baltimore defense could still be “magical” despite a stretch that saw opposing teams put up big numbers running the ball on their way to victories.

Random Bytes

The days of the NFL one-dimensional pocket passer are over
The best quarterbacks in the NFL right now are doing their best work outside on the move. Defenses are forcing it. They are stronger, faster and more bullying in their intent on collapsing pockets and punishing quarterbacks. The high school and college games are boosting it. Both are producing movement quarterbacks who push the skill to new levels. The scarcity of proficient pass-protecting offensive linemen is inducing it. Their task is easier with quarterbacks who can buy time and extend plays.

On N.F.L. Thanksgiving Menu: Six-Second Ads
The league has been looking for a way to reduce commercial time. So Fox will run ads between plays and see how viewers react. The National Football League, which is dealing with falling TV ratings, has said it is looking for ways to reduce the commercial time during games. Nine of the so-called double-box ads will play during the Thanksgiving game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions. They will replace one standard commercial block, which typically last two minutes and twenty seconds.

Marcell Dareus Traded to Jaguars for 6th-Round Draft Pick
The Buffalo Bills traded two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday in exchange for a 2018 sixth-round draft pick. While the Bills didn't receive much in terms of compensation, it's a sensible move for a team that has been in cap-clearing mode dating back to offseason trades of Ronald Darby and Sammy Watkins.