The 2005 season started as badly as could be imagined for the Jets yesterday. New coordinator Mike Heimerdinger’s offense has been advertised as more imaginative than that of his predecessor, Paul Hackett, and better able to utilize the accurate passing arm of quarterback Chad Pennington. But the Jets’ offense was grounded all day, with the only touchdown coming long after the Chiefs had put the game away.

Pennington’s shoulder didn’t seem to be a problem, but just about everything else went wrong. Pennington’s statistics (21-for-34, 264 yards, one INT) don’t convey how much he struggled. He looked immobile at times, unsure at times, and he had an incredible six fumbles, the second most in one game in NFL history.

Heimerdinger’s offense is supposed to create mismatches for the wide receivers to exploit downfield, but no.1 option Laveranues Coles failed to get much separation. Of course, even when Coles did get open, he dropped two potential touchdown passes.

The Jets’ offensive line against the Chiefs’ front four would seem to be a mismatch in New York’s favor, but Curtis Martin never had room to run and the Chiefs held him to 57 yards on 20 carries.

On the other side, the Chiefs’ offensive line, admittedly the best in football, physically manhandled the Jets up front as running backs Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson both ran through huge holes. Although John Abraham is back after missing most of training camp in a contract dispute, the front four consistently struggled to get into the Chiefs’ backfield. Last year’s top run stopper, tackle Jason Ferguson, is now in Dallas, and his replacement, James Reed, wasn’t up to the task.

Cornerback Ty Law, signed during training camp and expected to make immediate contributions, had mixed results. Although he had an interception, he also had a costly pass interference penalty in the first quarter. Law, who broke his foot last season, did not appear to be back at full speed in coverage or in run support, where the Chiefs made a point of running toward his side of the field and had no trouble doing it.

The Jets’ next game is at home against the Dolphins. Before the season started that looked like an easy win, but the Dolphins, playing hard for new head coach Nick Saban, beat up on the Broncos yesterday. If the Jets don’t play significantly better on both sides of the ball against Miami, an 0-2 start is in their future.

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The Giants had a much better start to the season than their stadium mates, dominating the second half to ruin Kurt Warner’s debut in Arizona with a 42-19 victory over the Cardinals.

The story of the game was the Giants’ run defense, which held the Cardinals to 31 rushing yards on the day. Warner led the Cardinals with 11 yards on three carries.

Eli Manning had an excellent first drive, capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey, but he struggled through much of the rest of the game, missing open receivers several times.

Rookie running back Brandon Jacobs had a very impressive debut, solidifying his role as a short-yardage alternative to Tiki Barber with 39 tough yards on 6 carries.

Meanwhile, Fullback Jim Finn and left guard David Diehl were as important to the rushing game as Barber and Jacobs. Diehl showed quick feet in clearing out the Cardinals’ defensive tackles, and Finn created big holes with effective blocks on Cardinal linebackers.

If the offense got off to a slow start in the first half, its second-half explosion put some worries to rest. Jacobs and Barber each scored, Manning hit his stride with a 13-yard touchdown to Plaxico Burress, and the special teams put the game away as Willie Ponder had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and Chad Morton scored on a 52-yard punt return.

Starting cornerback Will Peterson was unable to play after hurting his knee in pregame warm-ups, but backups Curtis Deloach and Corey Webster each played well in his place, with five tackles apiece and generally solid coverage.

The best news for Giants fans, though, was Michael Strahan’s return to full strength. Strahan had 1.5 sacks and made seven solo tackles. If the Giants’ running game and defense continue to play this well, Manning can take his time developing and New York will still be in every game.

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In the biggest upset yesterday, the New Orleans Saints, who had to evacuate their homes and still don’t know where they’ll play this year after Hurricane Katrina, beat the Carolina Panthers 23-20.

Rookie Alex Smith had a big day, but not the rookie Alex Smith who went first overall in the draft to the San Francisco 49ers.It was his namesake, a third-round tight end, who caught two touchdowns for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their 23-14 win against the Vikings.

The only rookie quarterback who did start yesterday, Chicago’s Kyle Orton, looked lost in his first regular season action as the Bears fell to the Redskins 9-7. The Redskins were so sure they could stop Orton that even on third-and-long with the Bears in a three-receiver formation, Washington crowded the line of scrimmage and dared Orton to beat them throwing. He couldn’t.

In Pittsburgh, the Steelers’ top two running backs, Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley, were out of action with injuries. No matter. The Steelers’ offensive line, led by guard Alan Faneca, showed that the success of Pittsburgh’s running game is due more to the line than to the backs, as second-year back Willie Parker had 209 total yards in the Steelers’ romp over Tennessee.

Every opening day has its share of surprises, and this year was no exception. What could be a more fitting way to start the season of the parity-filled NFL than finishing the day by noting that the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers are both all alone in first place?

Mr. Smith writes for the statistical Web site FootballOutsiders.com.