Bengals at Patriots: Highlights, score, and recap
By Matt Kerns
In what appears to be one the premier games of Week 6, the Cincinnati Bengals take on the New England Patriots in Foxborough on Sunday.
Tom Brady is back at Gillette Stadium in what will be his first home game of the 2016 season. Will the Bengals be able to slow him and the high-powered Pats offense down? The Bengals defense hasn’t nearly as good as it was a year ago when they won the AFC North. If they wish to repeat as champs of their division, they’ll need to start turning things around on the defensive side of the ball.
Andy Dalton hasn’t been bad, he’s not turning the ball over nor making those errant throws he did earlier in his career. But he’s not getting any help from his surrounding cast, which may be the worst in his six years there.
The running game with Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, needs to be at its best this week. They haven’t rushed for over 100 yards combined with the exception of Week 3 against Denver. When Hue Jackson was offensive coordinator for these Bengals, Hill and Bernard were a vocal point of the offense. This needs to be the case today.
Sitting at 4-1, the Patriots are in prime position (when are they not) for another deep run. The Bengals (2-3) need a win to keep them in the conversation.
Highlights:
Updated throughout the game.
Three Stars
1-Tom Brady
Why not put Tom Brady on here? What he did last week was impressive, albeit it was against the Browns. The Bengals serve as a more serviceable opponent but that shouldn’t stop Brady from doing his thing. The Bengals must do all they can and not commit silly mental errors to keep themselves from getting entirely humiliated on the road.
2-A.J. Green
Bill Belichick will do what he can to take away Green away. Green has 518 yards on 36 receptions and two touchdowns. Unfortunately for the Bengals, Green has been the only spark for the Bengals offense this year. In order for this game to NOT be over by halftime, Green will have to put up big numbers.
3-LeGarrette Blount
In their three road games this year, the Bengals have given up an average of 152 rushing yards per game. In three home games this year, Blount has averaged 94 yards on the ground and has three touchdowns. Blount will get 20 touches and will thrive against the Bengals shaky run defense.
Odds
Currently, the Patriots are 7.5-point favorites.
Next: Quarterback Controversies
Next Week
The Bengals will travel back home and take on the Browns. New England will head to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers.