NFL: New England 34, Cincinnati 13

CINCINNATI, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes -- two to Randy Moss -- Monday as the New England Patriots beat the Cincinnati Bengals 34-13.

Brady completed 25 of 32 passes for 231 yards with one interception for the Patriots (4-0). Moss had nine receptions for 102 yards and increased his TD total to a league-leading seven.

Carson Palmer ended 21-of-35 passing for 234 yards with a touchdown and two picks for Cincinnati (1-3), which has dropped three straight since winning its season opener. Chad Johnson was held to three catches for 53 yards.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh was Palmer's favorite target, catching 10 passes for 100 yards and one touchdown for the Bengals.

Both teams played without its starting running back. New England's Laurence Maroney was a game-time scratch with a groin injury, while Cincinnati's Rudi Johnson was ruled out of the game a few days earlier because of a strained hamstring.

Sammy Morris, filling in for Maroney, had 117 yards, 98 by halftime, and a touchdown on 21 carries.

Kenny Watson, the replacement for Rudi Johnson, rushed for 55 yards