By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Bengals' special teams were a consistent positive in an otherwise uneven game.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

Rookie Kyle Larson punted three times for a 50.3 average, including two inside the 20-yard line. His net was 46 yards, and his hang time resulted in just 13 yards in returns by Santana Moss.

Larson had entered the opener trying to hold his job week-to-week.

"I really thought Kyle Larson did a fine job. He answered the bell," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said after the 31-24 loss to the Jets.

The coverage team provided a big play on the opening kickoff. Jonathan Carter fumbled without being hit, and after the ball squirted away from Madieu Williams, Reggie Myles recovered at the 25-yard line. Four plays later the Bengals led 7-0.

WEEK 1 SNAPSHOT

LOOKING GOOD Carson Palmer. He looked nothing like a first-time NFL starter. Jets quarterback Chad Pennington said of Palmer, "You look at a young guy out there with poise, with confidence, running around and making plays with his arm. I'm a big fan of what he did today. He trusted his teammates." Special teams. Despite heavy turnover in the coverage and return teams, coach Darrin Simmons' group shut down the Jets' return game and made a big play on the opening kickoff that helped the Bengals grab a quick 7-0 lead. Kyle Larson had a 46-yard net average on three punts. Third down: The Bengals were 8-for-12 converting third-down plays offensively. TROUBLE SPOTS Run defense. The Bengals gave up 219 rushing yards and 13 first downs on the ground. Dating Dec. 7, the Bengals have allowed 200 yards on the ground three times in five games. Turnovers. The Bengals were minus 1 in turnover differential. Rudi Johnson's fumble resulted in a 41-yard touchdown by the Jets' Donnie Abraham. Inconsistency. The Bengals had seven rushes that were for zero or negative yardage. Part of the problem was caused by line reshuffling when center Rich Braham could not play. Larry Moore switched to center, and Eric Steinbach played while trying to regain strength in his left elbow. --Mark Curnutte

One problem area was Shayne Graham's kickoffs. He averaged just 62.6 yards on five attempts, and some of his kickoffs were low.

"We've got to get a little better at kicking the ball off with Shayne," Lewis said.

Still, the Bengals held Carter to a 20-yard average on five kickoff returns. The Bengals' T.J. Houshmandzadeh was better, averaging 25.4 yards on five returns.

COSTLY FUMBLE: Rudi Johnson had carried 245 times in the NFL without a fumble. He finally fumbled on his 246th carry - in the third quarter Sunday - and Jets cornerback Donnie Abraham returned it 41 yards for a touchdown.

The Jets took a 21-10 lead.

Linebacker Sam Cowart forced the fumble.

"He just made a great hit on the ball," Johnson said. "He got me when I was trying to cut."

Johnson, who had 70 yards on 24 attempts, had a 16-yard run on the next drive, which ended in a Bengals touchdown.

OPENERS: The Bengals lost their opener for the seventh time in the past 10 years.

Since the start of the 1991 season, the Bengals are 10-40 as a franchise in games played before Oct. 1.

INJURIES: Safety Rogers Beckett left the game in the first half with a recurring concussion.

Linebacker Brian Simmons (knee) and cornerback Deltha O'Neal (ankle) were inactive because of injuries. Rookies Caleb Miller (linebacker) and Williams started in their places.

Simmons and O'Neal are expected to play Sunday night against Miami, Lewis said.

Free safety Kim Herring and linebacker Landon Johnson played after spraining ankles, but Miller had to come out after twisting his left ankle. Miller had two tackles and walked on crutches afterwards.

"I didn't play fast enough, just my inexperience," Miller said. "I was too slow. I take this one on myself for playing poorly."

PETE'S BACK: After missing the first three games of the preseason with knee pain, the result of postseason knee surgery, Peter Warrick had a strong game.

The wide receiver's five catches netted 76 yards. He rushed once for eight yards. "Once I get going," he said, "I'm fine."

LINE PLAY: Center Rich Braham, who had arthroscopic knee surgery Sept. 1, started but had to come out.

"Sometimes you're trying to beat the laws of physics and Mother Nature," said Braham, who has come back quickly from surgery in the past. "This one wasn't quite as successful."

Larry Moore, who started at left guard, moved to center. Eric Steinbach, who has been fighting a left elbow ailment, was inserted at left guard.

"After I got in there for the first series, psychologically I knew it was better," Steinbach said.

LONG TIME: Kenny Watson was the backup tailback because Chris Perry's hamstring injury made him inactive. Watson's 6-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter was his first score since Dec. 29, 2002, for Washington. The score was the third of his career.

FOUR DOZEN: Curtis Martin rushed for 196 yards for the Jets, his 48th 100-yard game and third-best total of his career. He now has 11,865 career rushing yards. He had a 24-yard touchdown run and a three-yard touchdown catch. The two scores matched his 2003 total.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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