By Mark Curnutte and Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Chad Johnson is back in the guarantee business.

Though the Bengals were 0-7 a year ago when they played in Houston, it wasn't such a stretch for Johnson to guarantee a victory over an expansion team with a 2-5 record.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

Johnson's guarantee of a victory Sunday over Kansas City, though, is something different. The Chiefs are 9-0, the NFL's only undefeated team.

"This is how I feel about what we got going on right now, and how we've turned this organization around," Johnson said after Sunday's 34-27 win against the Texans at Paul Brown Stadium.

"Some people may not like the guarantee, but I know my teammates are not going to leave me hanging - they're going to give 100 percent, and they know I'm going to give 100 percent."

Johnson said he was glad the Chiefs, 41-20 winners over the Browns, didn't lose Sunday.

"It should be the game of the week, matter of fact," he said. "You know, undefeated (team) going against the new era of the Bengals, playing good football right now. . . . They're only undefeated until they come in here next Sunday."

Johnson had guaranteed he would score a touchdown Sunday, but had an apparent score taken away when he was ruled down at the Houston 1-yard line after replay.

Turnovers

The Bengals threw one interception and picked off one Houston pass. The Bengals remain plus-3 in turnover differential and have a 10-1 edge in turnovers in their four victories. Jon Kitna's one touchdown pass and one interception give him 13 and nine for the season. He has nine touchdown passes and one interception in the four victories.

Wow

The Bengals had the ball for 41:15 of the 60-minute game.

Get a lead

The Bengals scored first for the first time in nine games Sunday on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Kitna to Brandon Bennett on the opening drive. The Texans then scored on a field goal on their first possession, the seventh time in nine games that has happened.

Opposing offenses now have scored 37 points on first drives.

After scoring the first touchdown, the Bengals allowed 10 consecutive points. They have trailed in every game.

The Bengals also allowed the Texans to score on the opening possession of the second half, the fifth consecutive game that has happened.

Two backs

Despite Johnson's outstanding performances in three starts, coach Marvin Lewis said that Dillon has not lost his spot on the team.

"Rudi is a running back on our football team," Lewis said when asked if Dillon were still his top back. "We still have Corey Dillon, who is recovering from his injury, and when we get Corey back we will have Corey and Rudi."

Lewis does not comment on policy for inactive players. But Dillon was not on the sidelines Sunday with the team's other de-activated players and was believed to not have come to the stadium at all.

Peek, Evans return

Antwan Peek, the Texans' rookie linebacker from Woodward High School and the University of Cincinnati, started Sunday in his return home.

He had a tackle early but left the game with a left ankle injury with 6:43 remaining in the first quarter. He returned in the second half with two more tackles.

"I got banged up today, but I think I've been getting better and better each game and getting more confidence each game," Peek said.

Second-year linebacker Troy Evans (Lakota/UC) had one special teams tackle.

Etc.

Lewis excused his players from meetings with coaches today. Lewis also did so following victories against Baltimore and Seattle.

• The three-game home win streak is the Bengals' first since the opening of the 2001 season.

• Bennett's 6-yard touchdown catch was the first receiving career TD.

Looking good

Marvin ball. It was the kind of game Marvin Lewis likes. The Bengals had possession for 41:15. They ran 57 rushing plays. They dominated on third down. Turnovers were even at one apiece.

Fourth quarter. Talk about dominance: The Bengals had the ball for 13:28, ran 28 plays for 104 yards and had a 10-0 scoring edge. Houston ran four plays for minus-9 yards and threw an interception.

Offensive line. The Texans tried to take away the pass by playing both safeties deep, and the Bengals line made them pay: No sacks allowed and 240 rushing yards (equaled only once since 2000).

Trouble spots

Kickoff coverage. Shayne Graham's kickoffs have been short, and the Bengals yielded an average of 26.6 yards on seven kickoff returns to J.J. Moses. Houston twice started drives in Bengals territory.

First possessions. Houston scored on its first drive in both halves, meaning the Bengals have allowed opposing offenses to get points on 12 of the 18 drives to open the game and the second half.

Defense. The Bengals gave up 7.4 yards a carry. Corey Bradford had a 73-yard catch and run against a confused secondary. They gave up a Texans franchise record 27 points.

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