By Mark Curnutte and Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

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Jon Kitna wouldn't wait for a question. He opened his post-game press conference with a statement: "I've been playing football since the fifth grade, and I don't think I've played a game as poorly as I played today.

"I felt like I let the whole team down. I feel like I let the coaches down. I feel like I let our fans down."

Kitna threw three interceptions in the Bengals' 34-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. He has one touchdown pass and seven interceptions this season, and two-year Bengals totals of 13 TDs and 29 interceptions.

Still, Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said Kitna would start Oct.27 against the Tennessee Titans.

Kitna tried to set a positive example for his teammates.

"The reason I stay positive is because I think if we just stick with it and persevere and work hard, positive things will happen," he said. "I know this organization's past and what's happened in some guys' careers being here. They might look at it and say, `This sucks,' or `This is the same old thing.' But I'm hoping by doing this, they realize it's not the same old thing because I can do better."

In the second quarter, Pittsburgh's Joey Porter forced Kitna to fumble the ball, which was returned 36 yards by Steelers defensive tackle Casey Hampton to the Bengals 7-yard line. Pittsburgh scored on Tommy Maddox's 4-yard touchdown pass to Dan Kreider for a 24-0 lead.

LINEUP CHANGE: Bengals middle linebacker Brian Simmons couldn't start because of a neck stinger. He played, but Adrian Ross started in the middle, with Canute Curtis playing as the second outside linebacker.

BUS RUNS WILD: Steelers running back Jerome Bettis, held to 184 yards rushing and one touchdown in four games, had 109 yards against the Bengals and two touchdowns.

It was Bettis' 10th 100-yard effort against the Bengals in 13 games. He has nine touchdowns against Cincinnati.

BIG DAY: Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress had a second consecutive monster game against the Bengals. He had eight receptions for 149 yards, following his six-catch, 102-yard game last December.

INACTIVES: With Danny Farmer back from a knee injury, the Bengals went with five wide receivers. Farmer had one reception for four yards.

Michael Westbrook, a major free-agent signing in the offseason, was inactive. He has four receptions for 41 yards in five games.

INJURY REPORT: Looking ahead to the Tennessee game in two weeks, guard Mike Goff (knee) is probable, tight end Sean Brewer (knee) is questionable, and Simmons (neck), defensive end Vaughn Booker (knee) and defensive back Mark Roman (mild concussion) are probable.

TRASH TALK: Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh attributed his 15-yard taunting penalty to the "excitement of the game" following his second quarter, 19-yard reception.

Houshmandzadeh, who pulled in the Kitna pass at the Pittsburgh 37-yard line, was flagged for jawing with Steelers linebacker Clark Haggans.

"I don't remember his exact words, but basically he said `I hit you hard. You felt that hit.' And I got up and basically said, "No, I didn't,'" Houshmandzadeh said. "And I think it was the way I just jumped up - they just threw a flag.

"You gotta learn to be quiet. But it just takes the fun out of it. I'm out there having fun - I'm not thinking if I say something back, they're going to give me a penalty."

ON THE KAES: Bengals cornerback Kevin Kaesviharn's first-quarter, 17-yard interception was his fourth career pick and third against the Steelers. Kaesviharn intercepted a Maddox pass to Burress, setting the Bengals up on their own 35-yard line.

But the boost was short-lived. Two plays later, Pittsburgh strong safety Lee Flowers returned the favor with the first of his two interceptions.

"What can you do? It's hard to stay positive when things keep going against you," Kaesviharn said.

SCOREBOARD: The Bengals have been outscored 40-7 in first quarters. Their only first quarter-score was Simmons' 51-yard interception return against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Opponents have outscored the team 123-17 in first halves and 181-54 overall.

STEELERS FIRSTS: Antwaan Randle El's 99-yard kickoff return was the second longest in Pittsburgh history, behind Don McCall's 101-yard return on Nov.23, 1969.

Before Sunday, Flowers had interception just two passes since 1998. On Sunday, he picked off two passes for 31 yards.

Defensive tackle Casey Hampton made his first career interception, after teammate Joey Porter sacked Kitna. The 6-1, 320-pounder plowed 36 yards to the Cincinnati 7-yard line before guard Matt O'Dwyer and Corey Dillon pushed him out of bounds.

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