Bengals tailback Rudi Johnson has been the picture of production over the years.  Nobody in the NFL carried the ball more often from 2004 to 2006 than "The Doctor of Durability."  But there's a dent in Johnson's armor in the form of a strained hamstring suffered Sunday at Seattle. He joins middle linebacker Caleb Miller (lower back) on head coach Marvin Lewis' list of "guys who were a little bit banged up in the game that we're unsure about (against New England)."

If Johnson is sidelined Monday night, Kenny Watson will get an opportunity to keep his momentum going. He sparked the offense with nine carries for 60 yards and a TD against the Seahawks.  "We put the next guy up and we go," Lewis said. "You saw that when Kenny replaced Rudi.  "He's a little different style of runner than Rudi. He has certain runs we do offensively that have been set up a little different than where Rudi's strengths are. We have a lot of confidence in Kenny."

Yes, the Bengals defense did not allow themselves to be embarrassed again in Seattle like they had the week before in Cleveland.  In the end, when the team really needed them to stop the Seahawks with less than 3 minutes to go in the game, they were no where to be found. 

The Seahawks marched right down the field to take the final lead of the game 24-21.  The final touchdown drive included a 14 yard run on 4th and 1 by Sean Alexander and a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nate Burleson who managed like many other opposing receivers this year to get past the Bengals zone coverage. 

Rare safety:   Linebacker Lemar Marshall sacked Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in the end zone on a delayed blitz for a safety in the third quarter.  It was Cincinnati's first safety since Oct. 29, 2000, when Cleveland's Roman Oben was called for holding defensive end Vaughn Booker in the end zone.

Curious explanation:   After the Bengals scored the touchdown that put them ahead 21-17, coach Marvin Lewis elected to go for the two-point conversion. The play failed when Kenny Watson was pushed out of bounds.  It was a puzzling decision. If an extra-point kick had succeeded, Cincinnati would have needed only a field goal to win the game if it had gotten the ball with a minute to play following Seattle's touchdown. As it was, a field goal would only have tied it. Glenn Holt's fumble on the Seahawks' ensuing kickoff made it a moot point.

Time and time again, Bengals running back Rudi Johnson got the handoff and was stuffed. Seven times in 17 carries, he was tackled for a loss. His longest carry was 5 yards. He finished with 9 before leaving after three quarters because of a hamstring strain.  Johnson's previous low since becoming the Bengals' starter in 2004 was an 18-yard output against Kansas City in the 2005 regular-season finale, which Cincinnati treated as a glorified preseason game after clinching the AFC North.

He was at a loss to explain yesterday's difficulties. Seattle didn't put an eighth defender near the line of scrimmage, as teams often do when their first priority is to stop the run.  "I don't know, man," he said. "I don't have no clue. All I can do is get up and play the next snap until I couldn't go anymore."

Florence, Ky., native rushed 21 times for 100 yards for a Seahawks victory. 

Seahawks tailback Shaun Alexander savored the moment.  The Florence, Ky., native and former Boone County High School and University of Alabama star rushed 21 times for 100 yards in Seattle's 24-21 victory over the Bengals at Qwest Field on Sunday.

"This is exciting," he said, "as anybody would know, who gets to play against your home team in your stadium. I have aunts and uncles who don't even watch the Seahawks — they watch the Bengals — so they got to see us play and see me win. Anytime you get to beat your home team, it's good."

Receivers Johnson and Houshmandzadeh continue to put up big numbers — but the Bengals remain 1-2.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh came within one catch of tying Carl Pickens' club record for receptions in a game.  Instead of hitting the lucky number 13, Houshmandzadeh had to settle for the unlucky 12.  His 12 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown weren't enough to lead Cincinnati to victory. Neither was Chad Johnson's nine catches for 138 yards.

The Bengals sure know how to rack up superlatives in defeat.  "They (the Seahawks) thought their corners could play us man-to-man," Houshmandzadeh said. "They realized that wasn't the case. So they started playing us 'Cover-2.'