Jon Kitna walks off the field after a failed 3rd down conversion attempt against the Saints. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        The official word won't come until Monday, but Gus Frerotte might have edged out Jon Kitna for the Bengals' quarterback job Saturday night in a 31-23 preseason loss to the New Orleans Saints.

        Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said he will announce his decision early in the week.

        “I think it's going to be very clear once I look at this game and give everybody the courtesy of a last, close examination,” he said.

        Akili Smith, the Bengals' third-team quarterback, led a sandlot-style comeback at Paul Brown Stadium that ended with an interception in the end zone on the last play.

        Frerotte was 12-of-18 passing for 157 yards and an 11-yard touchdown pass to Danny Farmer in the third quarter. He didn't throw an interception and made several throws that showed off his arm strength, including a deep out to Chad Johnson.

        In three preseason games, Frerotte is 24-of-38 passing for 280 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Corey Dillon shows the ball to the goal line referee after being stopped at the one yard line in the first quarter. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        “I just went out and played my game of football,” Frerotte said when asked if he thought he did enough to win the job. “I don't know what they're thinking. I felt pretty solid out there.”

        The Bengals have scored 17 preseason points with Frerotte at quarterback.

        His competition for the job, Jon Kitna, led the Bengals' offense on two field goal drives and passed for 101 yards. But he also threw his first preseason interception, fumbled once, and was called for intentional grounding and illegal motion penalties.

        “I'm not going to get into it,” Kitna said when asked after the game if he thought the job was his. “Did I have my best game? No. There's no sense to talk about it other than I put my best out there.”

        With the Bengals trailing 31-9 in the third quarter, Frerotte drove the offense 79 yards in six plays for a touchdown. He was 4-of-4 passing for 48 yards on the drive.

Gus Frerotte (12) looks downfield under pressure from Saints defender Derrius Monroe in the third quarter. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        In the first half, Frerotte was 6-of-8 passing for 58 yards and led the Bengals to one field goal. Both of his incompletions were dropped passes by Peter Warrick.

        The Bengals had a 552-337 advantage in total yards but were hurt by their punt coverage team. The Saints' Michael Lewis had an 81-yard punt return, set up by a wall of good blocks, to give New Orleans a 14-6, second-quarter lead.

        “We turned the ball over too many times (four),” LeBeau said. “They ran a punt back for a touchdown. We had two third-down defensive penalty plays that we would have gotten off the field on, and they scored on one of them. It was just a series of key plays.”

        Kitna didn't have a good first drive. On a third-and-8 play from the Bengals 49-yard line, Kitna threw into traffic for Ron Dugans, but Saints rookie cornerback Keyuo Craver stepped in front for an interception. Kitna threw 22 interceptions last season, which contributed to his NFL-low passer rating for any regular quarterback.

        On the Bengals' first play, Kitna threw behind an open Warrick over the middle. Kitna completed an 18-yard pass to T.J.Houshmandzadeh before overthrowing him on a pass down the right sideline.

        Kitna fared better on the second drive. Trailing 7-0 after the Saints' Aaron Brooks threw a 16-yard touchdown pass on a screen to tailback Deuce McAllister, the Bengals started on their 17.

Jon Kitna is sacked by the Saints' Michael Hawthorne. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        Kitna hit Dugans for 9 yards, but he threw into coverage one play later, and Craver knocked down the pass. Kitna then fumbled a snap to set up a third-and-14.

        The Bengals rattled off three big plays to get down to the Saints 1. Kitna threw 29 yards down the left sideline to Houshmandzadeh. Corey Dillon then ran for 16 yards; he finished with eight carries for 45 yards in his first preseason appearance. Kitna then completed a 28-yard pass to Warrick to move the ball to the 1.

        But the Saints held. Kitna was incomplete on a pass in the flat, intended for Lorenzo Neal. The Saints stopped Dillon twice off left tackle, forcing Neil Rackers' 18-yard field goal that pulled the Bengals within 7-3.

        Kitna led a scoring drive on his next possession. He threw a 16-yard completion to Houshmandzadeh, and the Saints were penalized 15 yards on the play when rookie defensive end Charles Grant was called for roughing the passer. A Dillon run for 6 yards and a Brandon Bennett run for 17 gave the Bengals a first down on the 10, but they didn't get in the end zone.

        Kitna overthrew Warrick, then threw the ball away on the next play under pressure and was called for intentional grounding. Rookie kicker Travis Dorsch was good from 36 yards out to cut the Saints' lead to 7-6.

        In the preseason, Kitna is 19-of-35 passing for 226 yards, no touchdown passes and one interception.

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