CINCINNATI — The Patriots prolonged their win streak to 9 video games in a 26-20 win over the Bengals, however at what price?
The Patriots noticed the left facet of their offensive line and their particular groups captain depart Sunday’s win with accidents.
Rookie left sort out Will Campbell (knee) and rookie left guard Jared Wilson (ankle) didn’t return to motion. Neither did security/special-teamer Brenden Schooler.
It was an unpleasant win for the Patriots as they improved their document to 10-2. Quarterback Drake Maye didn’t appear to be himself in opposition to the NFL’s worst protection, and the Patriots’ rush protection wasn’t as stout with defensive sort out Milton Williams on injured reserve.
“You go on the highway, and it’s powerful,” head coach Mike Vrabel stated after the sport. “No one desires to speak about numbers and data. That doesn’t imply (expletive).”
The Patriots’ protection was in a position to make a stand, main by six factors because the Bengals took over at New England’s 28-yard line with 1:51 on the clock. Cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones made key move breakups to assist seal the victory.
“I used to be simply making an attempt to combine everyone in there and attempt to combine in some strain and provides us, the teaching workers — nice job by them. Nice job by the gamers,” Vrabel stated.
The Patriots managed only one first down on their opening drive, a six-play, 17-yard collection earlier than punting to the Bengals, who responded with a discipline aim. The early struggles for the Patriots’ protection continued, however a minimum of they allowed solely three factors on a 54-yard discipline aim from Evan McPherson on Sunday’s opening drive.
The Patriots’ offensive struggles continued on their second drive as they went three-and-out with two incompletions from Maye, who began the sport 2-of-5 for 10 yards. The Patriots ultimately pressured the Bengals to punt, as nicely. The Bengals confirmed they had been going to go for it on fourth-and-5 on the Patriots’ 45-yard line earlier than outdoors linebacker Ok’Lavon Chaisson jumped offsides. It didn’t find yourself mattering, nevertheless, with outdoors linebacker Harold Landry forcing a punt with a third-down sack, placing the Bengals again on the Patriots’ 45-yard line to punt.
Maye threw a pick-six on the Patriots’ second play of their third possession. Bengals security Geno Stone returned Maye’s interception for a 32-yard landing, giving Cincinnati a 10-0 lead.
Going 3-of-7 for 16 yards with an interception in his first three drives, it was simply the worst begin of a recreation for Maye this season. Even his completions appeared off early in Sunday afternoon’s recreation.
Maye appeared extra like himself, main the Patriots on a nine-play, 70-yard drive. Maye threw off one foot whereas evading strain on a 28-yard landing completion to tight finish Hunter Henry. The strain got here from rookie proper sort out Marcus Bryant, who was in for veteran Morgan Moses, who went to the locker room with an sickness.
Patriots slot cornerback Jones learn Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco like a e book and jumped a throw to the flat meant for operating again Tajh Brooks for an interception. He returned it 33 yards for his personal pick-six, giving the Patriots a 14-10 lead halfway by way of the second quarter.
The Bengals couldn’t get out of their very own method, committing holding and false begin penalties earlier than punting again to the Patriots. Flacco additionally simply might have been flagged for intentional grounding.
A nine-play, 68-yard drive put the Patriots in place for a 41-yard discipline aim from kicker Andy Borregales, giving them a 17-10 lead.
The Bengals shortly drove 37 yards on three performs, and McPherson nailed a 63-yard discipline aim to chop the Patriots’ result in 17-13. They couldn’t full the double rating popping out of the half, nevertheless, and went three-and-out.
The Patriots bought all the way down to the Bengals’ 1-yard line however couldn’t rating on 5 alternatives, with a defensive move interference penalty on Bengals cornerback Dax Hill giving them new life halfway by way of the collection. Even that didn’t assist, and so they ultimately turned the ball over on downs when Rhamondre Stevenson was stuffed for no acquire on fourth down. General, the Patriots ran seven performs from contained in the Bengals’ 5-yard line with nothing to indicate for it. They had been in a position to preserve their 17-13 lead after the Bengals had been pressured to punt.
The Patriots had been in a position to enhance their result in 20-13 with a 45-yard discipline aim from Borregales, however the drive was dampened by a knee damage to beginning left sort out and high choose Will Campbell. The Bengals had been pressured to punt once more on their ensuing drive.
As soon as once more, the Patriots couldn’t rating from the 1-yard line and needed to accept a discipline aim to go forward 23-13.
The Bengals marched down the sphere and scored on a 17-yard landing move from Flacco to large receiver Mitch Tinsley over cornerback Christian Gonzalez. On the earlier play, cornerback Carlton Davis was flagged for a 27-yard defensive move interference penalty whereas masking large receiver Tee Higgins. Higgins appeared to get knocked out on the play and was carted to the locker room with a concussion.
The Patriots solely generated 27 yards on 9 performs on their subsequent drive and needed to accept a 52-yard discipline aim from Borregales, extending their result in 26-20.
Finest
CB Marcus Jones: The slot cornerback continues to shine. He registered a pick-six to go together with 4 tackles. He additionally made the game-sealing move breakup.
TE Hunter Henry: Henry helped get the offense kick-started within the first half with three catches for 57 yards and a landing. He completed with a career-high 115 yards on seven catches with the rating.
Ok Andy Borregales: The rookie kicker was 3-for-3 on discipline targets and hit two further factors.
CB Carlton Davis III: Davis had three key move breakups on the Bengals’ last drive. He was beforehand flagged for defensive move interference however greater than made up for it along with his play late.
Worst
QB Drake Maye: Maye didn’t play nicely within the first half, when he went 10-of-16 for 120 yards with a landing and an interception, however even a few of these completions appeared off. The ball was popping out of Maye’s hand oddly in a recreation that ought to have been a cakewalk in opposition to the NFL’s worst protection. Maye completed 22-of-35 for 294 yards with a landing and interception however by no means fairly appeared the MVP candidate we’re used to seeing.
Quick-yardage dashing assault: Patriots operating backs obtained three alternatives to attain from the 1-yard line halfway by way of the third quarter and couldn’t acquire a yard to transform for a landing. It was an unpleasant show.
Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez: The highest cornerback allowed a 17-yard landing to large receiver Mitch Tinsley after Davis drew a 27-yard defensive move interference penalty.
OLB Ok’Lavon Chaisson: The veteran edge defender jumped offsides on fourth-and-5, giving the Bengals a primary down.
What we discovered
• Rookie operating again TreVeyon Henderson drew the beginning at operating again over Stevenson, who was getting back from a toe damage.
• The Patriots dressed defensive sort out Eric Gregory over fellow rookie Joshua Farmer on Sunday. Gregory, an undrafted free agent, was claimed off waivers from the Bengals after roster cuts. Farmer was a fourth-round choose. The Patriots additionally dressed Jeremiah Pharms Jr., who was elevated off of the follow squad, over Farmer to fill in depth for Milton Williams, who’s on injured reserve.
• Rookie large receiver Efton Chism III misplaced his spot on the gameday roster with Kayshon Boutte’s return. The remainder of the Patriots’ inactives: QB Tommy DeVito, offensive lineman Caedan Wallace, linebacker Jahlani Tavai and tight finish CJ Dippre.
