By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Rookie quarterback Carson Palmer led an 80-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, but the Bengals fell 28-13 in their preseason opener Sunday against the Jets.

PHOTO GALLERY

Sunday's game

Palmer finished the drive with a 10-yard TD pass to Chesley Borders, but the NFL's No. 1 draft pick had two passes intercepted and returned for touchdowns.

Former UC tailback Ray Jackson ran seven yards for the Bengals' other touchdown.

Palmer was driving the Bengals toward a possible tying touchdown when, at the Jets 32, Palmer threw slightly behind Lawrence Hamilton. The ball was tipped, and the Jets Wes Bautovich returned it 78 yards for a touchdown.

Palmer threw another interception on his next play. It was returned 36 yards for a touchdown by Troy Grant.

Palmer's line: 12-of-20 for 140 yards.

WHAT THEY SAID

• Marvin Lewis: "We knew there would be mistakes, and now I'm excited about watching the video tape and improving on these mistakes." • Carson Palmer, on what he needs to improve: "Everything." • Jets coach Herman Edwards on what he said to Lewis after the game: "I told him to continue to believe in the process of how you want to develop your football team and hang in there. I wished him a lot of luck. I think he's going to do good things there." - The Associated Press

One of the Jets touchdown drives was set up by a Jon Kitna fumble in the first quarter. And in the fourth quarter, a special teams breakdown gave the Jets a first down on the Bengals 25-yard line.

The first-team offense struggled in its initial preseason appearance. After gaining a first down on their first possession, center Mike Goff and quarterback Jon Kitna fumbled the exchange.

Jets defensive tackle Jason Ferguson recovered, and the Jets went 39 yards on nine plays for the touchdown. Tailback LaMont Jordan ran in from the 1.

A big play on the possession was the 21-yard pass from Chad Pennington to Santana Moss to the 4. The defense had no pressure on Pennington, and Moss found an open area in the secondary.

Kitna was 4-for-6 passing for 24 yards and the fumble in three series. Corey Dillon ran once for five yards.

At the end of the third quarter, New York's Albert Johnson took a low, 40-yard punt from Nick Harris and returned the ball to the Bengals 25-yard line. On the ninth play of the drive, rookie tailback Chad Brinker from Ohio University ran five yards for the Jets second touchdown.

Palmer played the second half and generally was on target, but he overthrew tight end Sean Brewer running free in a seam on what would have been a 30-yard gain.

Backup quarterback Shane Matthews played four series in the first half and was 8-for-11 passing for 51 yards. Matthews led the best drive of the first half, moving the offense from the Bengals 40-yard line to the Jets 20.

But the special teams, under first-year coach Darrin Simmons, committed a major gaffe. In a heavy rain, holder Harris dropped a good snap from Brad St. Louis after the Bengals had lined up for a 38-yard Neil Rackers field goal attempt.

Harris rolled right and tossed a pass in the direction of Tony Stewart. It was incomplete.

The Bengals did have a plus-one turnover ratio in the first half.

Middle linebacker Kevin Hardy intercepted a Vinny Testaverde pass, and defensive end Duane Clemons stripped the ball from quarterback Brooks Bollinger to end the Jets last drive. Linebacker Riall Johnson recovered Bollinger's fumble.

Palmer entered the game with 13:30 remaining in the third quarter. His first pass, intended for Adam Ziesel, almost was picked off.

He completed his first pass to Stewart and was 3-for-6 passing for 13 yards in the third quarter. They had no first downs in the frame.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Cincinnati	0	0	0	13-13
N.Y. Jets	7	0	0	21-28

First Quarter

NY-Jordan 1 run (Brien kick), 9:41.

Fourth Quarter

NY-Brinker 5 run (Brien kick), 13:15.

Cin-R.Jackson 7 run (Rackers kick), 7:43.

NY-Bautovich 78 interception return (Brien kick), 1:44.

NY-Grant 35 interception return (Brien kick), 1:26.

Cin-Borders 10 pass from Palmer (kick failed), :08.

	Cin	NY
First downs	17	10
Total Net Yards	305	155
Rushes-yards	30-90	35-86
Passing	215	69
Punt Returns	3-16	3-44
Kickoff Returns	4-105	2-30
Interceptions Ret.	1-13	2-114
Comp-Att-Int	24-40-2	9-19-1
Sacked-Yards Lost	0-0	3-18
Punts	7-38.1	6-44.0
Fumbles-Lost	4-2	6-1
Penalties-Yards	6-60	6-60
Time of Possession	32:17	27:43

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Cincinnati, R.Jackson 14-54, R.Johnson 10-27, Dillon 1-5, Palmer 1-4, Bennett 3-0, Kitna 1-0. New York, Jordan 10-37, Reese 6-16, Adams 6-15, Smart 3-8, Brinker 2-6, Bollinger 5-3, Bennett 1-1, Sowell 1-0, Testaverde 1-0.

PASSING-Cincinnati, Palmer 12-22-2-140, Matthews 8-11-0-51, Kitna 4-6-0-24, Harris 0-1-0-0. New York, Bollinger 5-8-0-45, Pennington 3-8-0-34, Testaverde 1-3-1-8.

RECEIVING-Cincinnati, Stewart 4-25, Borders 3-42, Farmer 2-49, R.Jackson 2-22, Ziesel 2-18, Bennett 2-13, Hamilton 2-13, C.Johnson 2-11, Edmonds 1-14, D.Smith 1-5, J.Johnson 1-2, Brewer 1-1, R.Johnson 1-0. New York, Becht 2-15, Carter 1-29, Moss 1-21, McGeoghan 1-8, Adams 1-8, Sowell 1-6, Reid 1-5, Smart 1-(minus 5).

MISSED FIELD GOALS-None.

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