Bengals receiver Chad Johnson and Adam Jones are good pals who had a grand time competing against each other and exchanging good-natured insults Sunday.

During his epic conference call with the Valley Ranch media earlier this week, Johnson vowed that Jones was "gonna get it." Jones predicted that Johnson's "horrible" season would continue for one week.

"Did I get it?" Jones said after Johnson's three-catch, 43-yard performance. "Hey, look, I'm going to tell you like this: There wasn't no kissing the star. He didn't get in the end zone, and I don't think he had more than three or four catches. End of discussion."

— Tim MacMahon

The Cowboys got their first interception of the season when outside linebacker Greg Ellis picked off a Carson Palmer pass that bounced off the hands of tight end Reggie Kelly on the first offensive play of the game. But several players had other chances to get interceptions, including Adam Jones, who dropped a potential pick in the third quarter.

"Man, I don't know what's wrong with my hands," Jones said. "I'll be on the Juggs [the ball throwing machine] this week. I missed three balls today."

— Calvin Watkins

Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis caught the Cowboys off guard by calling a surprise onside kick early in the fourth quarter. Shayne Graham dribbled the ball the necessary 10 yards, and Rashad Jeanty jumped on the live ball at the Bengals' 48-yard line.

The momentum shift didn't last long. The Bengals turned it over three plays later when Chris Perry fumbled.

— Brian Davis

Special teams captain Keith Davis was perturbed about the Cowboys' kickoff coverage against Cincinnati. Glenn Holt had a 46-yard return in the second quarter and a 60-yarder in the fourth. Holt averaged 29.5 yards on six returns.

"That was pathetic," Davis said. "You can't have that."

— Brian Davis

LB DeMarcus Ware registered a sack for the eighth straight game. Ware's sack came on a second-and-10 play with 1:44 remaining. He's now tied for third in Cowboys' history and only three sacks away from tying the all-time record set by Harvey Martin.

Ware said the Bengals' offensive line used slide protection most of the game. That meant Ware had to fight through multiple blockers. He still finished with five tackles and one quarterback pressure.

— Brian Davis

Playing in his first game since last season with Chicago, UT-ex Cedric Benson, who signed with Cincinnati last Tuesday, finished with 30 yards on 10 carries.

— Todd Archer

Center Andre Gurode left Texas Stadium with his left ankle wrapped in ice. Gruode said he was fine and despite missing a day of practice last week with a sprained ankle, he started.

"We didn't know if I could play," Gurode said. I couldn't put any weight on my ankle [Wednesday]. It was a little sore."

— Calvin Watkins

For the fifth straight game, Jason Witten led the Cowboys in catches, coming up with a game-high eight for 79 yards and a touchdown.

"There's continuity underneath," said Witten, who has 35 catches for 442 yards and two scores, "and I think that is something we have opportunities with."

— Todd Archer

Coach Wade Phillips ran all the way to the 5-yard line to complain when officials ruled that Ben Utecht made a 21-yard catch on third-and-6. Replays showed that Utecht's right foot came down out of bounds at the Cowboys' 2-yard line.

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Felix Jones starts to celebrate his touchdown, finishing off a 33-yard run.

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Phillips challenged the call on the field, and the Bengals went back to the Cowboys' 23-yard line to kick a field goal.

Phillips is now 2-0 on instant replay challenges. He correctly challenged that Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson lost control of the football before scoring an apparent touchdown in Week 2.

— Brian Davis

■ Montrae Holland saw his first action of the season at left guard, working a series in the second half.

■ Cornerback Terence Newman was scratched from the lineup with a groin injury. In addition to Newman, safety Roy Williams and safety Patrick Watkins, guard Kyle Kosier, offensive tackle Doug Free, defensive end Stephen Bowen and wide receiver Isaiah Stanback were also inactive.

■ With center Andre Gurode bothered by a sprained ankle, the Cowboys dressed eight offensive linemen.

■ Fullback Deon Anderson returned after missing two games because of knee surgery.

■ Wide receiver Miles Austin lined up as a kick returner with running back Felix Jones for the first time this season.

— Todd Archer