The Bengals are getting ready to face a a lot totally different Patriots workforce than the one they performed in Week 1 of final season.
The Patriots have been in a position to come away with the victory in Jerod Mayo’s first recreation as head coach, however they solely managed to win three extra video games all season. The Patriots now are 9-2, driving an eight-game profitable streak and are tied with the most effective report within the AFC as they get set to tackle the 3-7 Bengals.
The Bengals are simply three years faraway from a convention championship loss, and it’s been simply 4 years since their final Tremendous Bowl look. It’s wonderful how shortly issues can flip within the NFL.
One factor is for sure: The Patriots are in a lot, a lot better form this 12 months with Mike Vrabel as their head coach, Josh McDaniels because the offensive coordinator and Drake Maye, not Jacoby Brissett, beginning at quarterback.
Right here’s what we’re watching on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Cincinnati:
• The Bengals reportedly is not going to activate quarterback Joe Burrow from injured reserve in time for Sunday’s recreation, regardless of his return to full participation in observe earlier this week. Meaning Joe Flacco will proceed to begin. It’s debatable how comfy Burrow would have appeared in a rusty return to the sector coming off of a turf toe harm, however that is nonetheless a win for the Patriots. Burrow, at this finest, is among the high quarterbacks within the NFL. Flacco has been stable since becoming a member of the Bengals, however he’s received a 1-4 report with Cincinnati, and he’s 2-7 on the season, together with his time with the Browns.
• The Patriots don’t want to fret about Ja’Marr Chase this week, since he made the inadvisable choice to spit at Steelers defensive again Jalen Ramsey final week and received himself suspended. However they’ll nonetheless have to cowl Bengals broad receiver Tee Higgins, a preferred goal for the Patriots in free company till he was franchised and went on to signal a contract extension with the Bengals. On third down and demanding conditions, count on Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez to shadow Higgins, who’s the Bengals’ No. 2 receiver however is as proficient and high-powered as a No. 1. Higgins has 35 catches for 544 yards with seven touchdowns this season. The Bengals’ different broad receivers are Andrei Iosivas and Mitchell Tinsley.
• Operating again Chase Brown’s numbers don’t bounce off the web page, however the Bengals rank fourth in dashing DVOA, second in EPA/rush and eighth in dashing success price. Their offensive line is simply twenty first in ESPN’s run block success price, and Brown ranks twenty fifth in rush yards over anticipated, so there’s one thing funky occurring there. The Patriots’ run protection has been large this season, however they did seem to overlook Milton Williams after he left final week’s win over the Jets. Count on his snaps to be break up between Khyiris Tonga and Cory Durden. Rookies Joshua Farmer and Eric Gregory additionally may tackle larger roles.
• Williams is the Patriots’ finest or second-best defender, with Gonzalez being his largest competitors. The Patriots do have good depth at defensive deal with behind starter Christian Barmore, nonetheless. Tonga and Durden are having profession years, and Farmer and Gregory have had stable moments.
• The Bengals’ pass-block win price ranks simply twenty ninth this season, per ESPN, they usually’re twenty third in PFF’s pass-blocking effectivity. The Patriots’ move rush has been inconsistent this season, and shedding Williams for the subsequent 4 video games will damage. On the sting, Ok’Lavon Chaisson can also be having a profession 12 months with 6.5 sacks by 10 video games. Fellow beginning exterior linebacker Harold Landry III has slowed in current weeks. Might the Patriots give rookies Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson extra alternatives? Ponder, an undrafted free agent, has sacks in two straight video games. Swinson, a fifth-round choose, was signed off of the observe squad and could possibly be set to make his NFL debut in opposition to the Bengals.
• The Patriots’ offense should be back at full strength this week with broad receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) and working again Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) again. Boutte, one of many league’s finest deep threats, has missed the final two video games. Stevenson has been out for 3 video games. The Patriots weathered the storm with out these two, however dealing with the league’s worst protection, per DVOA, it could possibly be a extremely productive day for the offense.
• Boutte will seemingly take his reps again from rookie Kyle Williams, who caught a 72-yard landing in opposition to the Buccaneers however was in any other case ineffective in Boutte’s place. Maye and Boutte had solid a powerful downfield connection by the primary half of the season.
• Rookie TreVeyon Henderson took on a a lot bigger position in Stevenson’s absence. Previous to Stevenson’s harm, Henderson was largely a change-of-pace again. Henderson had a 147-yard, two-touchdown efficiency in Week 10 and scored three touchdowns in Week 11. He’s not constructed for an every-down position, however his effectiveness and big-play means ought to minimize into Stevenson’s enjoying time. With none inside info, it wouldn’t be stunning to see them break up snaps.
• Two key Bengals defenders, defensive finish Trey Hendrickson and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, are additionally out. With out Hendrickson dashing from the suitable aspect, rookie left deal with Will Campbell shouldn’t have an excessively troublesome matchup this week. Maye has been sacked quite a bit this season, however he reiterated this week that the majority of these have been his fault. The Patriots’ offensive line has been a lot, a lot better this 12 months.
• This must be a blowout. Recreation prediction: Patriots win 38-13 in opposition to an undermanned Bengals workforce.
