Joe Flacco will make his sixth start for the Bengals against the Patriots.
Joe Flacco will make his sixth start for the Bengals against the Patriots.Matt Freed/Associated Press
CINCINNATI — The Patriots flew to Cincinnati on Saturday ahead of their game against the Bengals.
Here are four things to watch for Sunday afternoon:
Can the Patriots contain 40-year-old Joe Flacco?
The Bengals didn’t activate quarterback Joe Burrow off of injured reserve, which means he won’t be available for Sunday’s game after practicing in full on Wednesday and Thursday. Burrow hasn’t taken a game snap since Week 2, sidelined with a Grade 3 turf toe injury.
The Patriots will instead face Flacco, who has started the last five games for the Bengals. Flacco will be without the offense’s best weapon, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who is suspended for spitting on Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey last week.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, who also faced Flacco as a linebacker during his playing days, shared appreciation for the QB’s longevity and command.
“You’re not going to trick him,” Vrabel said. “You’re going to have to cover him, beat him, rush him. The ball comes out quick. He doesn’t seem to get rattled very easily. It’s not something that’s going to happen. Arm strength and accuracy have been great. He kind of knows what he wants to do and where he wants to go with the ball.”
Flacco’s results have been a mixed bag, as he’s completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 1,453 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. The problem for Flacco and the Bengals offense is that no matter how many points they score — Cincinnati tallied 39 in Week 7 and 42 in Week 8 — the defense cannot seem to get a stop.
Will Drake Maye eclipse 300 passing yards for the first time in his NFL career?
One milestone Maye has yet to reach amid his MVP-caliber season is a 300-yard game.
This game might represent his opportunity to reach the number, as Cincinnati’s defense grades out as the worst in the league. The Bengals are the only team in the NFL to surrender an average of more than 400 total yards per game (418.2). They are also the only defense to allow an average of more than four touchdowns (4.1) and 30 points (33.4).
Maye, who leads the league in passing yards with 2,836, should have a field day. The return of wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, the passing attack’s best vertical threat, should only help. After missing the last two games with a hamstring injury, Boutte was a full participant in practice Thursday and Friday. He does not have a game designation and is expected to play.
How will the run defense fare without Milton Williams?
With Williams (ankle) on injured reserve, the Patriots will be without a top defensive contributor and leader. Through 11 games, Williams had lived up to his massive contract, playing an integral role in the team’s stout run defense while also generating pressure.
Christian Barmore and Khyiris Tonga, the other two key pieces in the run defense, will likely see an uptick in snaps. Eric Gregory, who made his season debut in Week 11 following Williams’s injury against the Jets, could also be in line for more playing time. The same goes for Cory Durden, rookie Joshua Farmer, and practice-squadder Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
Still, it will be difficult for the Patriots to fill the void. The defensive depth will be tested.
“I think the thing we’re trying to get everybody to understand is how much this is a progress league, and to be able to improve as the season goes on,” Vrabel said. “So, we’ll have to do that without Milt.”
What will the backfield look like?
The Patriots have been relying on rookie running TreVeyon Henderson the past three weeks because Rhamondre Stevenson has been sidelined with a toe injury. Stevenson doesn’t have a game designation, so he’s expected to play despite practicing in the limited capacity on Wednesday and Thursday.
“There weren’t many restrictions,” Vrabel said. “He responded well to the practice. I would say that as long as there were not any setbacks here that he’d be in line to play.”
Prior to his injury, Stevenson served as the lead back and logged the majority of the snaps. After Henderson’s success in the past three games — 264 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns — might the Patriots be inclined to create more of a 50-50 split? Henderson was averaging just 20 snaps per game in Week 1-8, but now seems deserving of a larger role.
The run game has been one of New England’s weaknesses, so perhaps a balanced tandem of Stevenson and Henderson would help generate more efficiency and consistency.
Terrell Jennings is also an option as a depth piece.
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com. Follow her on X @nicolecyang.