After Cincinnati's 38-27 loss at Ravens Stadium yesterday, Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna tried to explain the guessing that often spells the difference between a completed pass and an interception, a triumph and a defeat.
"Wait a split second, and you have a huge play," the sixth-year veteran said. "Or if you're a little bit off, it can be disastrous."
Kitna guessed wrong three times yesterday, resulting in two interceptions that were returned to the end zone -- one for a touchdown and the other a touchback -- and a third that set up another Ravens touchdown. This came after two of his best games in which he completed 39 of 50 passes for 456 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions in a win over Houston and a loss to Tennessee.
By the end of the Bengals' fifth possession yesterday, Kitna was 3-for-7 for 23 yards with two interceptions. He finished 28-for-41 for 272 yards and two touchdowns.
"The things that have been [helping the Bengals] play well offensively the last couple of weeks were the things we didn't do well today and led to our downfall," said Kitna, who was sacked three times. "I wish I had played a little better. It's frustrating."
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound quarterback was hit squarely by the Ravens' Peter Boulware on the third play of the Bengals' initial drive. Boulware's pressure resulted in an incomplete pass, and two plays later Kitna threw his first interception to Ed Reed.
It got worse. The Bengals' third possession ended with a dropped pass by Chad Johnson -- the most reliable receiver in Kitna's five starts with 29 receptions for 380 yards and two scores. And on Cincinnati's fourth possession early in the second quarter, the Ravens' Adalius Thomas picked off a pass intended for Ron Dugans and returned it 25 yards for a 14-7 lead.
"I didn't think that guy could make that play. He reached out there and made a heck of a play," said Kitna, who recovered to help the Bengals tie the game at 14 with 5:42 left in the first half. During an eight-play, 81-yard drive, he connected four times for 77 yards with Johnson, ending with a 39-yard scoring reception.
But during a fourth-quarter drive starting at the Bengals' 7-yard line, Reed intercepted Kitna to give Baltimore possession at Cincinnati's 19, setting up Jamal Lewis' second touchdown for a 38-20 lead.
"In hindsight, you might not make that throw," Kitna said. "It was one of those plays that was half a yard off. And it turned into disaster."