Patriots vs. Bengals: Game Preview and Key Matchups for Sunday Showdown
The New England Patriots are aiming to continue their winning streak as they head to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals this Sunday. The Patriots, with a record of 9-2, will face the Bengals, who are 3-7. The game is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on CBS. The BetMGM line favors the Patriots by 8 1/2 points. The Patriots hold the series lead against the Bengals with a record of 18-10, and their last meeting resulted in a 16-10 victory for the Patriots in Cincinnati in 2024.
Quarterback Drake Maye has been a standout player for the Patriots this season and is in the conversation for the NFL MVP award. Maye leads the league in completion percentage at 71.9% and passing yards with 2,836 yards through 11 games. He has also thrown at least two touchdown passes in eight games this season, showcasing his impressive performance on the field.
The Bengals' quarterbacks, Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco, are also key players to watch in this matchup. Burrow recently returned to practice after recovering from a toe injury and is expected to make his comeback in the Thanksgiving night game against Baltimore. In the meantime, Flacco has been leading the Bengals and has been averaging 290.6 passing yards in his five starts for the team.
One of the key matchups to watch in this game is between Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore and the Bengals' offensive line. Barmore leads all NFL defensive tackles in pressures with 37, posing a significant challenge for the Bengals' offensive line, which has struggled with injuries and consistency throughout the season.
Both teams have players dealing with injuries heading into the game. Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been playing through a broken finger, while running back Rhamondre Stevenson has been limited in practice due to a toe injury. On the Bengals' side, defensive end Trey Hendrickson is expected to be inactive due to a hip injury, and running back Samaje Perine and defensive end Cam Sample are also likely to be out.
The Patriots have had the upper hand in recent matchups against the Bengals, winning eight of the past 10 meetings. They have a solid record of 8-7 in games played at Cincinnati, including a 4-2 record at Paul Brown Stadium/Paycor Field since its opening in 2000. Notably, the Bengals ended Tom Brady's 52-game streak of throwing a touchdown pass in a game back in 2013.
With Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase out, Andrei Iosivas could see an increase in targets in the passing game. Iosivas has been productive in recent games, with eight of his 19 receptions coming in the past two matchups.
As the game approaches, stay tuned for updates on this developing story. For the latest news and updates, download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts and follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. Don't miss out on the action as the Patriots take on the Bengals in what promises to be an exciting matchup.