Back from their mini-bye, the 9-2 New England Patriots head out to Cincinnati for a matchup against the 3-7 Bengals. In the midst of nine straight victories, New England will look to make it 10 in a row to match their longest winning streak since 2015.
The Patriots offense will have reinforcements in order to do so, as Kayshon Boutte and Rhamondre Stevenson return from injury to help Drake Maye against a historically bad Bengals defense. Cincinnati, meanwhile, will be without star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase while quarterback Joe Burrow was not activated off injured reserve despite practicing this week.
Follow along down below throughout Sunday’s contest.
Live score: Patriots 0 : 3 Bengals
The Bengals won the toss and deferred putting Drake Maye and the Patriots offense on the field first. New England picked up an opening third-down on the ground — in which left guard Jared Wilson went down with an injury — before Maye’s pass on the following third-down fell incomplete as he was hit as he threw.
New England’s defense allowed the Joe Flacco-led Bengals offense to pick up three first downs — including a pair of third-down conversions to Mike Gesicki — to start their first possession of the game. Across midfield, Cincinnati settled for a 53-yard field goal attempt on a fourth-and-3 following a drop by Tee Higgins. [Patriots 0 : 3 Bengals]
Facing a third-and-6 to start their next drive, Maye’s pass to Hunter Henry fell incomplete leading to a second straight Patriots punt.