EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jon Kitna said his swollen finger was no factor. He attributed his interceptions, instead, to continued communications breakdowns with his intended receivers.

        The Cincinnati Bengals' quarterback was not trying to throw the ball to the New York Jets Sunday. It only looked that way. Four times in the Bengals' final two possessions, Kitna threw passes that easily could have been picked off. Two were dropped but two were caught and the Jets were consequently able to preserve a 15-14 victory at Giants Stadium.

        “Yeah, I'm sure it was affecting it some,” Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said of the injured finger Kitna sustained last week against Jacksonville. “It's badly swollen. It's very stiff. I'll give Jon a lot of credit for going out there ... But I'm sure his finger was a factor in some of those balls that got away from him at the end there.”

        The extent of Kitna's injury, the depth of the Bengals' recent decline (and, presumably, the prodding of Bengals owner Mike Brown) prompted LeBeau to start Akili Smith at quarterback for the first time this season. Kitna, who had started the 12 previous games, entered this one as an injury replacement late in the second quarter.

        Already the lowest-rated passer among NFL regulars, Kitna saw his numbers continue to decline from their dizzying September highs. He completed 10 passes in 17 attempts for 93 yards against the Jets, but his three interceptions produced a passer rating of 34.3.

        Kitna's first interception was forgiveable — a prayerful bomb on the final play of the first half — but his later work was troubling. After the Jets took the lead, 15-14, with 6:57 left to play, Kitna threw three passes on the Bengals' next possession that fell in Jets hands before free safety Damien Robinson ended the drive with an interception. The last one sailed over the path of Peter Warrick, Kitna's target.

        Then, with 48 seconds to play, Kitna was picked off by linebacker James Farrior.

        “On the first one,” Kitna explained, “I was just hoping we were on the same page. On that last one, I tried to anticipate a throw to a spot where I thought the receiver was going to be and I'm not sure exactly what happened.”

        Kitna has been frustrated by the detail work of some of his teammates all season, but he was quickly in Smith's corner when the starting assignment was made. When Smith led the Bengals to a touchdown on their first possession, Kitna was the first player off the bench to congratulate him.

        “I think a lot of times it would make for a better story if we didn't get along,” Kitna said.

Jets 15, Bengals 14 Bengals Report Card Game statistics SULLIVAN: Akili earns another look Kitna continues to struggle Defensive lapses prove costly Dillon's numbers up but he wants wins Smith wins longest drive contest Jets break December hex Steelers 26, Ravens 21 Browns coach hurt in bottle-throwing melee

Stingy UC hosts poor-shooting Richmond
UC cracks Top 25
UC women 87, Belmont 73
O'Leary saga: 'Sad set of events'
Notre Dame AD takes blame
How O'Leary's lies were uncovered
Knight faces more accusations
Southern Cal 59, Miami 55
Pfeiffer 97, NKU 87
Johnstown 4, Cyclones 2
Mets get Estes from Giants
Sports events this week
PREP BASKETBALL PAGE
High school week ahead
This week's boys basketball schedule
This week's girls basketball schedule
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
Kentucky boys basketball score
Kentucky girls basketball score
Indiana boys basketball scores
Indiana girls basketball scores

• Return to Bengals front page...