By Mark Curnutte and Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis got a post-game hug from Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and a quick handshake from coach Brian Billick.

Marvin spent six years with the Ravens as defensive coordinator, three in Billick's employment. Ray was his star.

Game 1 for Marvin Lewis against Baltimore went his way. The Bengals won 34-26 Sunday before a crowd of 53,553 at Paul Brown Stadium.

"No, it wasn't, actually," Lewis said when asked if the day was emotional. "I have a job to do. They have a job to do. I love them all, great to see them, but we're in this competing against them."

Billick was 7-1 against former Bengals coaches Bruce Coslet and Dick LeBeau. The Ravens had won nine of the past 10 against the Bengals.

"I've been there, and it feels great," Billick said of what Lewis must have experienced in beating his former team. "Forgive me if I'm not popping champagne bottles for him. At an appropriate time, that's one where you say, 'Good job.' "

DAY OFF: Lewis gave his players today off, the players first Monday off under Lewis.

CARSON PROMOTION: In keeping with his preseason plan, Lewis moved rookie quarterback Carson Palmer to No. 2 behind starter Jon Kitna for Baltimore. Palmer had been the emergency third quarterback during the first five games, a role 10-year veteran Shane Matthews assumed Sunday.

"We need to make sure we give him steps in the process to make him the fine NFL quarterback everybody believes he can be," Lewis said of Palmer. "It's no reflection on Jon and Shane. It's something I talked to Shane about prior to when we signed him." Palmer did not play.

TURF TIPS: The newly installed sod at Paul Brown Stadium drew no complaints from Bengals players. The majority of the playing surface was replaced after the Bengals lost to the Steelers on Sept. 21. "It was a very big improvement," running back Brandon Bennett said. "It was good. I don't have anything bad to say about it."

Said rookie fullback Jeremi Johnson: "You could plant and go, no problem. It felt a little more comfortable."

POINT EXPLOSION: The Bengals scored 14 points in the first quarter Sunday for the first time since Nov. 28, 1999, at Pittsburgh. The Bengals beat the Steelers 27-20.

LEGGIN' IT: In his first game since signing with the Bengals on Oct. 7, punter Kyle Richardson averaged 45.8 yards per punt. Richardson's longest of five total kicks was his third, a 58-yarder in the second quarter. It also was the Bengals' longest this season.

PRO DEBUT: Bengals wide receiver Kevin Walter made his NFL debut after signing a three-year contract Thursday.

The rookie did not catch a pass, but made a special teams tackle in the second half.

"I was more anxious than anything. There were no butterflies," said Walter, who was signed off the practice squad. "I was ready for my name to be called. My name was called and I just tried to go out there and make plays."

BIG DAY: Kitna had three touchdown passes and no interceptions against the Ravens. He also had three touchdown passes and no interceptions in the victory at Cleveland. So goes Kitna, so go the Bengals.

In the two victories, Kitna has thrown for 489 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. In the four losses, he has three touchdowns, six interceptions and 939 passing yards.

BIG TARGET: Matt Schobel's presence adds another threat to the Bengals passing game. On his touchdown reception, the Ravens double-covered the outside receivers, and Schobel and single coverage against linebacker Adalius Thomas.

"Coverage dictated the ball come to me, and Jon made a great throw," said Schobel, who had two receptions for 62 yards.

He fumbled the ball at the end of his second catch, and Bennett recovered. "Believe me, I thanked him," Schobel said.

ODDS AND ENDS: The Ravens' first-quarter touchdown was the sixth time in six games the Bengals allowed the opposition to score first . . . Dillon's touchdown in the late first quarter gave the Bengals a 14-7 lead, the first time they had led at home in three games . . . T.J. Houshmandzadeh was one of eight Bengals inactives. The wide receiver has missed all six games with a pulled hamstring.