Barnes' first play was a disaster

OAKLAND — Khalif Barnes has been waiting months to start for the Raiders. His time came Sunday. But on his very first play from scrimmage, Barnes’ big moment turned into a nightmare. Jets defensive end Calvin Pace raced around him and jarred the ball out of JaMarcus Russell’s hand. New York recovered and scored four plays later.

“I had the guy set up on me,” Barnes said. “I just didn’t use my hands well, and he didn’t even use a move. I lost balance in my feet and I take full responsibility for that. You can’t let the quarterback get hit on the first play of the game because I think that would do something to their psyche. ... That first play is going to haunt me.”

Coach Tom Cable hadn’t copped to any changes in the starting lineup, but Barnes said he got first-team repetitions all week. He started 57 games in four seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars, though all of them were at left tackle. With Cornell Green nursing a sore hamstring and Erik Pears struggling, Barnes got the call at right tackle against the Jets.

He insisted he wasn’t nervous.

“I’ve done it before,” Barnes said. “You always have that excitement, or that anxiety or whatever you want to call it during the game. Usually for me it’s over right after kickoff. When the series starts, I just think you’re playing in the park.”

TURN AROUND!

Another week, another special-teams breakdown for the Raiders. This time, it was a fake punt by the Jets. Seeing open space ahead, New York punter Steve Weatherford pulled it down and took off for a 16-yard gain on fourth-and-7 in the second quarter, while several Raiders ran downfield ahead of him, never looking back until it was too late.

“The whole thing this week was to make sure the ball was kicked, regardless of the situation, and we just didn’t do it,” Cable said. “We took our eyes off the punter, got into the return too soon and everybody turned and ran with their man.”

SCHILENS DEBUT POSTPONED

So much for the ballyhoo over the return of Chaz Schilens, a media blitz that included a press release on Tuesday and an organized group interview on Wednesday. Schilens felt soreness in his surgically repaired foot after practicing Wednesday and Thursday, and the Raiders shut him down for this game.

Cable said he didn’t believe Schilens’ absence hurt the team mentally.

“We haven’t had him, for in terms of a letdown, whatever,” the coach said. “We’ve got to go with who’s out there.”

2 STEPS FORWARD, 1 STEPBACK

Darrius Heyward-Bey caught two passes for 28 yards, practically doubling his season output, but he didn’t necessarily have a great day. The rookie from Maryland saw the 49ers’ Michael Crabtree — the player he will be judged against all year — pass him with five receptions in his first NFL game. And Heyward-Bey dropped a short fade pass in the end zone from Bruce Gradkowski with 2:30 left.

“I’ve got to make that play,” DHB said. “I argued the call, but at the end of the day, the ball’s in the air. I’ve got to come down with it.”

EXTRA POINTS

Michael Huff started at free safety, and Cable said he would expect the fourth-year player to remain there for the time being.

TE Tony Stewart left with an injury to his chest, and did not return.

It was the first time the Raiders allowed 300-plus yards on the ground since a 34-27 loss at Seattle on Nov. 11, 2001.

The Raiders didn’t crack the New York 20-yard line until 3:51 remained in the game.

Shane Lechler had a burly 53-yard average on five punts.

Russell completed 6 of 11 passes for 61 yards and two interceptions; Gradkowski was 10 of 19 for 97 yards.