Jon Kitna shared his biggest game as an NFL quarterback with his 4-year-old son, Jordan, bringing him into the interview room after leading the Bengals to a 26-23 comeback victory in overtime against Pittsburgh.

        Kitna set career highs with 35 completions and 411 yards. His 68 pass attempts tied Houston's George Blanda (1964) as the third-most for a single game in NFL history.

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Jon Kitna is hit as he throws. (AP photo)

        The record for attempts is 70 by New England's Drew Bledsoe (1994). The Jets' Vinny Testaverde threw 69 passes in a game last season.

        The completions are the second-most for a single game in Bengals history, trailing only Ken Anderson's 40 in 1982 at San Diego.

        Kitna's 411 yards were the fifth-most in franchise history and were the most by a Cincinnati quarterback since Boomer Esiason set the record with 490 yards on Oct. 7, 1990 at Los Angeles against the Rams.

        “That reminded me of college,” said Kitna, who played at NAIA Central Washington. “I remember times being over 70 (attempts).”

        Kitna exceeded the 393 yards he had in his previous three games combined. He has 2,876 yards for the season.

        The Bengals' 22 passing first downs tied a team record set twice previously.

        Kitna's two touchdown passes were his first since he threw one in the fourth quarter of the Dec.2 overtime loss to Tampa Bay. Kitna had just two touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in the seven-game losing streak.

        Kitna, an evangelical Christian, first credited Jesus for seeing him through the rough stretch of the season and shared the big game with his receivers.

        Kitna never blamed the sprained middle finger on his throwing hand, suffered Dec.9 against Jacksonville, for his poor preformances in recent weeks. Coach Dick LeBeau said Kitna was throwing the ball better the past three days at practice leading up to the Steelers game.

        “I was happy for Jon,” LeBeau said. “I was happy for the offense.”

        Wide receivers Darnay Scott and Peter Warrick each had more than 100 yards receiving, and rookie T.J. Houshmandzadeh had 98.

        Kitna saved his best for last. He had 183 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime, when he threw two touchdown passes, no interceptions and led the Bengals to 16 consecutive points.

        The final drive in overtime went from the Bengals' 1-yard line to the Steelers' 13, covering 86 yards in 11 plays; 42 yards came on pass plays.

        “The way Kitna was throwing the rock and the way we were catching the ball, I knew we were going to score,” Houshmandzadeh said. “I don't know the aspect of Kit's finger being hurt, but he throws the ball well to me every day.”

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