DaytonDailyNews.com

CINCINNATI — Kenny Watson answered every one of his critics who said he's not durable enough to carry the football 20 to 25 times a game.

The sixth-year tailback from Penn State rushed 30 times for 130 yards and a 1-yard touchdown in the Bengals' 19-14 victory over Cleveland on Sunday — his fourth career 100-yard game that stole the spotlight from the Browns' Jamal Lewis (21 carries, 92 yards).

"It's important for me to show that (durability and production)," said Watson, who pushed his season totals to 694 yards on 157 carries (4.4-yard average) and six TDs. "I take pride in whatever they call upon me to do. I do it and try to do it well.

"Every time you step on the field, you want to show everything you can — special teams, running back, whatever I'm doing."

Watson showed himself as a capable replacement for starter Rudi Johnson, whose season (170 carries, 497 yards, three TDs) has been wrecked by a hamstring injury.

Johnson was sidelined for the fourth time this season, then DeDe Dorsey suffered a sprained right ankle on the Bengals' first series on Sunday. That double whammy forced Watson to carry the load.

"That's what you've got to be prepared for," Watson said. "I wanted to come out and play well. The offensive line did a great job controlling the line of scrimmage, making it easy for me just to be patient and hit the holes."

His only mistake came when he fumbled on a left-side sweep at Cleveland's 17-yard line with 1:48 to play, giving the Browns one last gasp at a victory they couldn't grab.

"Yeah, it was a bad fumble," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. "We've got to do a better job in those situations of understanding that you've got your yardage, get down, and let's live to play the next down."

"Kenny is as hard on himself as anyone on this team is," quarterback Carson Palmer added. "You hate to see it happen. We get so excited when Kenny has a game like he did because everyone on this team loves him so much. He's such a team player, and he's come up big for this team a lot over the last four or five years."

Watson's 2008 base salary is $605,000, while Johnson is due to earn $3.2 million. Watson has a better chance of sticking around because he's not as expensive.

"I definitely want to come back," Watson said. "It's been a disappointing season, but we're looking at finishing this season strong and starting next season strong."

Next game | Who: Bengals (6-9) at Dolphins (1-14) | When: 1 p.m., Sunday | TV: CBS | Radio: WTUE-FM (104.7)