By Mark Curnutte and Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The biggest play of the Bengals victory Sunday was perhaps the most unexpected.

With 6:05 left in the fourth quarter, and the Bengals holding on to a 17-12 lead, quarterback Jon Kitna connected on a 77-yard touchdown pass with Peter Warrick.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

It came on the first play after Kansas City had scored. Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski made the call and said, "The primary guy initially is Chad underneath on the crossing route. But we have that post built in for a certain coverage. The credit to Jon and Peter is they recognized the coverage."

Everybody in the stadium expected the Bengals to hand the ball to Rudi Johnson.

"We wanted to start that drive aggressively to go get first downs," Bratkowski said. "We were not going to just hand it off three times."

Marvin Lewis gave credit to the offensive coaches.

"That was one heck of a job," Lewis said. "I had my back turned until I saw the ball go up in the air. That is a good thing."

RUDI, RUDI, RUDI: Bengals tailback Rudi Johnson had his third 100-yard game in four starts.

His 165 yards give him an average of 129.3 in the four starts. He ran a career long 54 yards in the fourth quarter on the final drive that helped the Bengals kill the clock.

Johnson shared time Sunday with Corey Dillon, who had 21 rushing yards on six carries. Dillon is coming back from an injury, initially diagnosed as a groin strain, that is a more serious abdominal muscle problem.

"We got the rhythm going," Johnson said. "They couldn't key on one guy."

THE JUNGLE: With the NFL's lone undefeated team in town, fans packed Paul Brown Stadium with a Bengals record crowd of 64,923.

"I saw a sign at the top (of the stadium) that said, 'Welcome back to the jungle,' " linebacker Kevin Hardy said. "I took that as saying in year's past they've had some times when it's been like that. Now it's the jungle again. Guys are excited to be here and excited to play. The fans are right there with us."

ROLLIN' ROMAN: After a first half in which he was held to 74 yards passing, Chiefs quarterback Trent Green wound up throwing for 313 Sunday.

Green might have had more if not for Bengals free safety Mark Roman, who broke up three passes and had three tackles.

"I was just playing my role on defense," said Roman, a fourth year pro. "Everybody on defense has got a role, and our job as athletes is to get it done to the best of our ability. (Sunday) . . . I was able to make most of the plays that came my way."

ANOTHER FIRST: The Bengals took a 9-6 lead with 5:04 remaining in the third quarter on a 13-yard touchdown pass to fullback Jeremi Johnson. The rookie from Western Kentucky caught a swing pass, stiff-armed Chiefs linebacker Mike Maslowski at the 7-yard line and dove toward the end zone.

"I just remember looking at the referee," Johnson said of his first receiving TD. "Then when he threw up his hands, I threw up my hands."

TURNOVERS: The Bengals did not turn the ball over against the Chiefs and have 10 takeaways and just one turnover in their five victories. Kitna had two touchdown passes and no interceptions. He has 11 touchdowns and one interception in the five victories.

UNHOLY DAY: Chiefs tailback Priest Holmes had enjoyed a 6-1 record against the Bengals as a member of the Baltimore Ravens from 1997-2000. Holmes, who had 227 rushing yards against the Bengals in 1998, was held to 62 rushing yards and 36 receiving yards Sunday.

"I don't respect the Bengals organization because I've never lost to them. It tears my heart apart," said Holmes, whose time in Baltimore overlapped with Marvin Lewis. "Marvin rallied the defense in Baltimore. He's destined to make this a winning organization."

Week 11 snapshot

Looking good

Offensive line. Elusive run blocking is beginning to become a consistent asset. The line limited KC to two sacks and is largely responsible for the five-plus minutes of possession advantage.

Peter Warrick. The fourth-year receiver had 212 total yards and scored two touchdowns. He is beginning to live up to the excessively lofty expectations fans had of him after his college career.

Defense. The Chiefs had been successful on 42.6 percent of their third-down attempts coming into the game. The Bengals held them to 1 for 11 (9 percent).

Trouble spots

Fourth-quarter defense. The Chiefs scored two touchdowns quickly in the fourth quarter and had 177 total yards.

First-quarter punting. Kyle Richardson punted three times for a combined 106 yards in the first quarter, and Dante Hall had 67 return yards. Credit the Bengals defense for preventing the Chiefs from scoring on their first two possessions, both starting from their 48-yard line.

Schedule. The Bengals now have three games in a row on the road, where they are 1-3.

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Enquirer reporter John Erardi contributed.

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