Patriots V Bengals

[CrashDavisSports]

Although last week's debacle cannot be blamed on two plays, I was screaming at the TV when they punted on 4th and 2 twice from the Chief's side of the field and netted basically nothing on either kick. I hope BB makes better decisions than that. Keeping the ball away from Dalton will be key.

...and as much as I've taken my fellow Pats fans to task for abandoning hope, I also try to be a realist. I honestly see Cinci coming out with the win. I do think the Pats will turn it around at some point but this week has so much stacked against them from the difficult match-ups to the well rested Bengals. I will be pleasantly shocked to see the Pats win this one.

(fingers crossed)

Well, the Pats have four things going for them this week....

1) The Patriot's are a great home team, and they do not lose back to back games very often. They figure out how to get it on track in a hurry.

2) The Bengals are terrible in prime time games.

3) The Bengals are not very good in games coming out of a BYE.

4) The sheer magnitude of this game, what it means to the Bengals and the decade long legacy of the Patriots to put a little doubt in their minds before they even take a snap.

If we win this game, I would be ecstatic. I predicted the Bengals to go 12-4 at the beginning of the season. I predicted losses to: Baltimore in Baltimore week 1 (came away with a win), New England in New England week 5 (hopefully a win, but you never know), against New Orleans in New Orleans (who are looking like a beatable team, but they are tremendous at home so pretty hard game still), and finally, Denver at Cincinnati. Peyton Manning owns us and Denver has a damn good team.

So if we can win the first two games I predicted losses at, then that gives us the ability to have two other let down games somewhere else in the season (maybe one against Pittsburgh or Cleveland, and hopefully if it has to be another game, it will be out of conference, so a let down game against Carolina or Tampa Bay).

 

[cdumler7]

Honestly torn on who to cheer for in this game. Pats winning makes sense logically as right now Bengals are ahead of the Broncos in the standings for top team in the AFC. At the same time Patriots have been on my hate list for quite some time so nice to see the franchise coming back to earth. This is one of those games of whether I follow my heart and cheer for the Bengals or follow my head and cheer for the Patriots. I guess either way I could feel good about the outcome.

 

[PatsFan2003]

Vontaze Burfict might literally kill the guy if he decides to run. I doubt Brady runs at all.

I expect NE to put up a much better effort. Hell, I expect them to win. The Bengals don't play well in prime time games.

LOL. I guess fans get used to expecting the worst! I think the beat-down for the Pats continues. I think they'll play better but there are too many issues to fix all at once. And the Bengals are a very good time right now. Forget the playoffs.

 

[TxHeat]

Forget the playoffs.

talk to this guy!!

 

[PatsFan2003]

Honestly torn on who to cheer for in this game. Pats winning makes sense logically as right now Bengals are ahead of the Broncos in the standings for top team in the AFC. At the same time Patriots have been on my hate list for quite some time so nice to see the franchise coming back to earth. This is one of those games of whether I follow my heart and cheer for the Bengals or follow my head and cheer for the Patriots. I guess either way I could feel good about the outcome.

It's a win-win situation. There's good to be gained from both scenarios. Denver is going to have to deal with the Bengals on their own I think. I guess I would root for the Pats because the threat of the Bengals is greater than that from the Pats (and the imaginary fight for the top seed from them). HaHaHa.

 

[PatsFan2003]

talk to this guy!!

I actually was talking about the Bengals and their dismal playoff record. Who cares at this point

Remember when people here were wondering whether the Pats could get the top seed in the AFC...

*sigh*

 

[redseat]

Although last week's debacle cannot be blamed on two plays, I was screaming at the TV when they punted on 4th and 2 twice from the Chief's side of the field and netted basically nothing on either kick. I hope BB makes better decisions than that. Keeping the ball away from Dalton will be key.

Yup, BB has lost some balls by doing that. I mean this just sends a clear message to the team that he doesn't trust the OL or offense in general. GO FOR IT DAMN IT!

 

[NEhomer]

Honestly torn on who to cheer for in this game. Pats winning makes sense logically as right now Bengals are ahead of the Broncos in the standings for top team in the AFC. At the same time Patriots have been on my hate list for quite some time so nice to see the franchise coming back to earth. This is one of those games of whether I follow my heart and cheer for the Bengals or follow my head and cheer for the Patriots. I guess either way I could feel good about the outcome.

Piss off dumler - Pats fans

Fuck you dumler - Cinci Fans

 

[PatsFan2003]

This is such an interestign matchup.

The history and everything else says the Pats will bounce back.

Yet...you look at the OL and wonder how can they protect Brady? No wonder Brady has happy feet this year. Metnally, this poor OL has already gotten to him because they are so bad he feels pressure when none is there.

Cincinnati has had a top 5 defense in 4 of the past 5 years. They get pressure while just rushing 4, and they lead the league in QBR when blitzing and completion % when blitzing.

It doesn't help that NE doesn't have a WR that can take the top off the defense, which allows the defense to crowd the middle of the field, taking away the run after catch. Too many defenders in the area. With Cincinnati being able to only rush 4 or 5 and probably get pressure, that is a lot of defenders in the area for INT's, or defelctions/incompletions.

Defensively, they should struggle with Cincinnati's passing game, especially if Marvin Jones does return. Add in Gio out of the backfield, and Hill (averaging 5.0 YPC or something) and they could easily wear down this defense.

Yet, after all that...I just have a really hard time seeing the Bengals pull it out, on the road, in NE, after NE got blown out, on Sunday Night...Until N.E. actually loses a few games like this one coming up, I'll continue to believe that Brady and Co can still get it done.

I want to believe you. I really, really do. I just think the gap between what the Patriots need to fix and what the Bengals have shown already is too large. It's hard to imagine that the Patriots Oline will be fixed enough to deal with a reallllly good Bengals defensive line. Plus all the other things on offense and defense the Pats need to fix.

BTW the Patriots are 2.5 points favorites! What the hell is going on out there??

 

[cdumler7]

Piss off dumler - Pats fans

Fuck you dumler - Cinci Fans

You know me...always making friends everywhere I go!

 

[Art Vandelay]

I'm not into overreacting to wins or losses, but this is a huge game for the Pats. Historically, when everyone has written them off and proclaimed that the Patriots' reign of excellence is over, they have responded. However, the Bengals are a tough out. Their defense is top-notch. I'm still not completely sold on Dalton, though, and I think he can be rattled into making some mistakes. Whether or not the New England offense can capitalize on those mistakes remains to be seen.

This game will answer questions for both teams: Can the Bengals perform well when everyone expects them to, and can the Patriots bounce back from a humiliating loss and show the world that they still belong among the NFL elite? As long as the Pats play well and show signs of fight, I won't be hugely concerned if they lose. I'm not into "moral victories," but the AFC East is so week, I think they will win the division and make the playoffs regardless. However, if they get smoked in prime time in back-to-back weeks, I think that any playoff run will be short-lived.

 

[mrschaney]

I would feel better if this game were to be played at "THE PAUL". I would also rather we face the Patriots with them overconfident after a win rather than after an embarrassing loss and I feel they will be playing with a chip on their shoulders so I think this will be a close one either way.

 

[{+}Mother-Marge{+}]

I would feel better if this game were to be played at "THE PAUL". I would also rather we face the Patriots with them overconfident after a win rather than after an embarrassing loss and I feel they will be playing with a chip on their shoulders so I think this will be a close one either way.

LOL,......and we ALL figured the pats [after barely beating the raiders] were gonna go into KC and whoop-ASS/or keep it somewhat close.........NOT.....!!?

 

[redseat]

LOL,......and we ALL figured the pats [after barely beating the raiders] were gonna go into KC and whoop-ASS/or keep it somewhat close.........NOT.....!!?

This years team is not a team that we as fans are used too. After a tough loss or an ugly win go out and whoop the a&& of another team.

 

[TP76]

I really don't think, with all that's wrong with the Patriots, they can just flip the switch and all of the sudden look like a good football team. I think they're gonna need to be at least +2 or +3 in turnovers to have a shot at winning. Straight up, no way - they're a dumpster fire on offense.

 

[redseat]

I don't see them switching the switch that easily either. However... We have to remember these are pretty much the same players from last year with the exception on Mankins and all of a sudden the OL sucks and Brady has no time? Something else has to be going on. It can't just be the loss of Mankins.

 

[cdumler7]

I don't see them switching the switch that easily either. However... We have to remember these are pretty much the same players from last year with the exception on Mankins and all of a sudden the OL sucks and Brady has no time? Something else has to be going on. It can't just be the loss of Mankins.

I would say losing your OL coach of 20 years has a big part in the OL struggles. Can't be a coincidence that the OL completely falls apart the year he leaves.

 

[PatsFan2003]

Same here. I think they should play better on both sides of the ball than the train wreck they were in KC but will it be good enough against the Bengal? They could play better and still end up with a solid loss.

In the past the Patriots have already responded to a bad loss but I'm not sure this week.

 

[redseat]

I would say losing your OL coach of 20 years has a big part in the OL struggles. Can't be a coincidence that the OL completely falls apart the year he leaves.

Yeah, it certainly is a coincidence here... I don't see why the Patriots aren't doing everything they can to get him back.

 

[lasvegasb/tcha$$]

Sorry but i have given up on them,i am sick & tired of billy boy giving up picks & talent,however even after betting the bengals,i think the pats will eek out a win