CINCINNATI – On paper, it wasn’t close
The Cincinnati Bengals entered this week with the worst-ranked defense in the NFL. They were starting veteran backup quarterback Joe Flacco. They were also without All-Pro receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who was serving a 1-game suspension, and their best defensive player, Trey Hendrickson.
The Patriots, meanwhile, returned three starters to their lineup – receiver Kayshon Boutte, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, and linebacker Christian Elliss.
Sunday’s matchup in Cincinnati was a good example of why games aren’t played on paper. Mike Vrabel’s team got all it could handle from an injured Bengals team. Drake Maye and the Patriots offense had one of its sloppiest performances since the team’s loss against Pittsburgh in Week 13.
The Patriots had to fight more than the Bengals in this one as the big story on Sunday was health.
The Patriots saw multiple players suffer injuries and had the left side of their offensive line leave the game as Jared Wilson (ankle) and Will Campbell (knee) were carted off the field. Special teams ace Brenden Schooler (ankle) was also injured.
The Patriots beat the Bengals, 26-20, on Sunday, but their tenth win came with a cost.
Here’s what went down:
Patriots lose starter in first drive
The Bengals entered this week with the worst run defense in the NFL, allowing an average of 160.9 rush yards per game. The Patriots tested that early, running the ball four times in their first six plays of the game. The results, however, were mixed. After gaining a first down, TreVeyon Henderson ran for 6 yards. The Patriots weren’t able to gain the remaining 4 yards and soon punted.
To make it worse, starting left guard Jared Wilson was carted off the field after suffering an ankle injury. He was carted off the field and replaced by backup Ben Brown.
It wasn’t better for the Patriots in the second drive as the unit went three-and-out. Maye threw two incomplete passes in this series, including one on third down where he threw the ball away due to a safety blitz.
Patriots defense still can’t start fast
The Patriots defense still can’t start fast.
On Sunday, the unit allowed the Bengals to score on their first drive. That marks the ninth time an opponent has scored on its first drive in 12 games this season.
Joe Flacco went 3/6 for 26 yards on the drive. He hit tight end Mike Gesicki for two first downs, including a 12-yard pass to get over midfield. That helped set up a 54-yard field goal by Evan McPherson at 6:36 of the first quarter to give the Bengals a 3-0 lead.
Harold Landry steps up
A Patriots edge rusher made a mistake, and then another edge rusher made up for it.
In the Bengals second drive, Cincinnati was faced with a fourth-and-5 when they opted to go for it on their 45-yard line. Flacco was able to get K’Lavon Chaisson to jump offside, giving Cincinnati another scoring opportunity.
However, on third-and-5, at the 35-yard line, Harold Landry stepped up and sacked Flacco for a loss of 10 yards. That pushed the Bengals out of field goal range, forcing a punt.
That was sack number 6.5 for Landry this season.
Maye struggles, Patriots fall behind
Maye didn’t look right to start Sunday’s game. That was emphasized in the team’s third series as the quarterback was easily intercepted for a pick-6.
The quarterback was 3-of-7 for 16 yards with an interception in three series. In the third drive, Maye’s first pass was inaccurate, nearly hitting the ground, in a completion to Stefon Diggs. His next pass was intended for Hunter Henry, but the quarterback grossly overthrew his target, and the ball went right to Bengals safety Geno Stone.
Stone ran the interception back 33 yards for the touchdown to give Cincinnati a 10-0 lead at 14:19 of the second quarter.
This marked the first time the Patriots trailed by double digits since Week 4 against Pittsburgh.
Maye rebounds
The losses kept piling up for the Patriots, but the offense narrowed the gap.
After losing starting left guard Jared Wilson to an ankle injury in the first quarter, the offense lost starting right tackle Morgan Moses in the second quarter. At 13:42 of the second, the veteran left the field and was ruled questionable due to an illness. He was replaced by rookie Marcus Bryant but returned later in the game.
In this series, however, Maye and the Patriots settled down. The quarterback hit Hunter Henry for a 12-yard gain on third-and-2. On the next play, Maye went back to Henry with a 28-yard touchdown at 9:36 of the second quarter, and the Bengals led 10-7.
Marcus Jones steps up
The Patriots gained momentum after Henry’s touchdown. After falling behind 10-0, Vrabel’s team scored 17 straight points.
At 7:51 of the second quarter, Marcus Jones intercepted Flacco and ran back 33 yards, untouched, for the touchdown. Cincinnati had just gained a first down when the veteran quarterback attempted to hit Tahj Brooks on the sideline.
Jones read it perfectly and nabbed his third interception of the season while giving the Patriots a 14-10 lead. That marked the Patriots first pick-6 since Jan. 1, 2023.
The Patriots extended their lead to 17-10 after Andy Borregales hit a 41-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining in the half.
Bengals score on record-setting kick
It looked like the Patriots would go into halftime up a touchdown. Instead, their lead got cut to four points. Evan McPherson set a Bengals record with a 63-yard field goal to end the half.
That was possible due to the Patriots defense giving up back-to-back big plays. Chase Brown ran for 21 yards on first down, and then Tee Higgins caught a 16-yard pass on second down.
Patriots can’t score from goal line
The Patriots blew a golden opportunity in the third quarter.
The Patriots were backed up on their own 9-yard line, faced with a third-and-11 when DeMario Douglas made a diving 37-yard catch on the play. The slot receiver took a handoff and ran 14 yards on the next snap.
On the next play, Kayshon Boutte drew a 35-yard defensive pass interference penalty. That set up a first-and-goal from the 5-yard line. The Patriots got to the 1-yard line, and after failing on third down, the offense went for it on fourth down, where Boutte drew a second pass interference penalty.
The sloppy play wasn’t done. On second-and-1, from the 1, Maye hit Henry for a touchdown, but that was called back due to offensive pass interference on Mack Hollins. The offense got back to the 1-yard line, where Rhamondre Stevenson was stuffed on third down.
At 7:54 of the third quarter, on fourth-and-goal, Stevenson was stuffed, and the Patriots turned the ball over on downs despite having five snaps at the goal line.
Patriots lose Will Campbell
After losing their starting left guard, the Patriots also lost their starting left tackle.
At 4:58 of the third quarter, Will Campbell suffered an injury to his right knee. It was a tough scene for the Patriots as players knelt around Campbell following an injury. The No. 4 overall pick was then carted to the locker room as Vederian Lowe took over at left tackle.
This drive saw the Patriots move downfield, but that left side of their line collapsed on second down as Maye was sacked for a loss of 9 yards. The offense still managed to get a 45-yard field goal from Borregales and led, 20-13, at 1:04 of the third quarter.
Patriots fall short, again
In their first drive of the fourth quarter, Maye turned to his tight end. Unfortunately, the team once again got stopped on the 1-yard line.
Faced with a first-and-20, the quarterback hit Henry for a 23-yard gain. This drive saw the veteran tight end surpass the 100-yard receiving mark. Later, he also caught a 14-yard pass to set the Patriots up with a first-and-goal from the 4-yard line.
On third-and-1, Maye was stuffed on the goal line as the Patriots were stopped for the second time on Sunday. Instead of going for it on fourth down, Borregales kicked a 19-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 23-10 lead with 5:55 remaining.
Penalty leads to Bengals touchdown
Down by 10, Cincinnati wouldn’t go away quietly.
After two Bengals first downs, Carlton Davis was flagged for a 27-yard defensive pass interference penalty while trying to cover Tee Higgins. The Bengals receiver suffered an injury on the play as his offense was set up at the 17-yard line due to the penalty.
On the next play, Flacco hit Mitch Tinsley for a 17-yard touchdown. With 4:40 left, the Patriots clung on to a 23-20 lead.
Patriots hang on
The Patriots needed some separation from Cincinnati and once again, received it from their rookie kicker.
After the Bengals’ touchdown, Maye’s unit drove downfield, crossing the 50-yard line. Stefon Diggs stepped up with a 14-yard reception on third-and-11 at the 36-yard line. That set up a 52-yard field goal for Borregales. That was the rookie’s fourth field goal of the day as the Patriots led, 26-20, with 1:51 on the clock.
The Bengals came back on the field with a chance to win.
Cincinnati moved the chains once, getting near midfield. With 51 seconds left, on fourth-and-8, Flacco hit Tinsley for a 12-yard gain for another first down. On the next snap, the quarterback did it again, hitting Andrei Iosivas for a 19-yard gain at the 26-yard line.
After spiking the ball, Flacco threw at Carlton Davis twice but the cornerback deflected both passes on second and third down.
On fourth-and-10, Flacco’s pass was broken up by Marcus Jones.
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