By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

A pair of No. 1 overall draft picks, quarterbacks Michael Vick and Carson Palmer, could make the third preseason game more memorable than most.

Palmer, picked No. 1 by the Bengals is 2003, will play into the third quarter at Atlanta tonight as part of his evolution as the team's starter. Coach Marvin Lewis said he wants Palmer to experience halftime adjustments.

Palmer played the first half of the second preseason game against New England and threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Vick, the Falcons' starting quarterback, was the first player chosen in 2001. He suffered a broken right fibula in the preseason last year and was limited to five games with four starts.

He started the last four games and led the Falcons to three victories in what would be a 5-11 season. Vick played into the second quarter of Atlanta's second preseason game against Minnesota and was 5-for-9 passing for 35 yards. He also ran three times for 18 yards.

"They have a big-play quarterback," Lewis said of Vick. "We need to contain and get him off the field. That's what you do every week: win third down."

But Vick won't be the only Atlanta quarterback worth watching. Though he's a rookie third-stringer, Matt Schaub is tied with Palmer for the preseason lead with three touchdown passes (through games of Aug. 21).

Lewis also sees the Atlanta defense as a good test for Palmer and the rest of the offense. The Falcons are learning a new system under rookie head coach Jim Mora, former 49ers defensive coordinator.

"Atlanta has a really athletic defense," Lewis said. "They have some guys who can run well to the football. There's some evolution. You can see some things that they're not quite sure about yet."

The Bengals lost their preseason opener at Tama Bay. They've yet to win in three road preseason games in two years under Lewis and finished 3-5 away from home last season.

"We get a chance to play in a dome. I'm sure their crowd will be loud," Lewis said. "We need to play a good team on the road."

The game also will be the last, at least for the time being, for nine Bengals players. With a roster of 74, the team must meet league rules and cut to 65 by 4 p.m. Tuesday. Those moves could come as soon as Monday after coaches review game film.

The Bengals have to get down to 53 players by 4 p.m. Sept. 5. The preseason finale is Friday night at home against Indianapolis.

Special teams performances will be a deciding factor for some players in the Atlanta game.

Rookie punter Kyle Larson will get an extended audition for the job against the Falcons. With Kyle Richardson's injury and the release of Eddie Johnson, Larson is the only healthy punter on the roster. He could help himself with a solid showing.

The Bengals could be combing the waiver wire for punters if Larson doesn't have a good game. A team insider also says the Bengals could be in the market for a veteran backup linebacker. Their most recent depth chart has rookies Landon Johnson, Caleb Miller and Larry Stevens as the second-string linebackers behind veteran starters.

Lewis wants to win tonight.

The Bengals haven't had a winning preseason since 1988, the last time they went to the Super Bowl.

But Lewis, more importantly, wants to see each string of Bengals players perform well. Jobs, again, will be won or lost tonight.

"I think it's generally used (as a dress rehearsal)," Lewis said of the third preseason game. "But we're a football team that still has to play football. We haven't arrived anywhere yet. Every time we line up and strap on a helmet, we have to be ready to play.

"That's what I tell the guys every week: As long as you're in the football game, you better be playing to the best of your ability."

GAME DAY

Bengals (1-1) at Falcons (1-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today.

Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta.

Series: Falcons lead the preseason series 6-2. Atlanta has won the last five preseason games against the Bengals.

TV: Ch. 12.

Radio: WCKY-AM (1360) and WOFX-FM (92.5).

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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