10-06-2015, 08:10 PM
I was thinking about the last two match-ups the Bengals and Patriots have had one the Bengals won and one the Pats won. Each game was played around the same time of year and the core players are still mainly intact for both teams. Even though they aren't on our regular schedule I see them as a team we are more then likely going to have to face if the Bengals want to hoist the Lombardi trophy.
The first match-up was on October 6th, 2013 and with a healthy team and home field advantage the Bengals won the game 13 to 6. The defense smothered the Patriots offense leading to probably the worst performance of Brady's career with 18 of 38 of his passes completed, 197 yard, 0 TDs and 1 INT leaving him with a measly 47.9 rating. A hungry Burfict led the team with 8 tackles (7 solo.) and Gilberry and Atkins got their hands on Brady with a sack each. Chris Crocker actually had a good game with 2 passes deflected, 8 tackles (4 solo.) and he shared a sack with Gilberry. I remember the d-line rotation was chewing up the Pat's o-line leaving Brady flustered. Blount rushed for 51 yards and had a 4.2 avg per carry.
The Bengals offense wasn't turning heads either though. Gio Bernard was our standout player on offense imo even though he lost a fumble he rushed for 62 yard and a 4.8 avg per carry. We were still feeding the rock to Green-Ellis (
) primarily at that point so he only had 13 carries. Green Ellis did get the games only TD but averaged a poor 3.5 avg per carry and had 19 carries. Dalton had a rating of 56.2 with 20/27 passes completed for 212 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT and 4 sacks against him. It was good enough to win the game but not a pretty performance in the passing game. AJ Green was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 61 yards. Eifert wasn't far behind with 5 catches for 53 yards. Brandon Spikes, Devin McCourty and Jerod Mayo were the standouts on the Patriot's defense. Spikes had 12 tackles and and INT, McCourty had 12 tackles and Mayo had 11 tackles. They also had Aqib Talib and Wilfork on their team at the time.
The second game was also on October, 6th but a year later in 2014 the Bengals got destroyed in New England in a 17 to 43 blowout. I can remember it being one of the most embarrassing games in recent memory. Brady and the Patriots had enough of hearing the critics after they got thrashed by the Chiefs the week before. Brady put up a 110.7 rating with 23/35 passes completed for 292 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs. Without a 100% Atkins plus a rookie defensive coordinator the pass rush was weak only puttting Brady down once for a sack. They killed us in the running game Stephen Ridley had 27 carries for 113 yards and a TD. Shane Vareen had 9 carries for 90 yards as well. We also got the full Gronk treatment he was their leading receiver with 6 catches for 100 yards and a TD. Our defense was a mess. They were so bad we even let a no name TE Timothy Wright look like an all-pro with 5 catches for 85 yards and a TD. Rey M and Iloka led the team with 9 tackles a piece. Burfict was out.
The Bengals offense was solid but unprepared for what was coming their way none the less. Dalton had 15/24 passes completed for 204 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs for a respectable 117.4 rating. The o-line was solid with only 1 sack given up. AJ Green led the Bengals in receiving with 5 receptions 81 yards and a TD but had a costly fumble. Sanu was efficient with 5 catches for 70 yards and a TD. He was playing his best game at the beginning of that season. Interesting that Jeremy Hill had 3 catches for 68 yards and only 1 rushing yard on 2 carries. Gio led the rushing attack and gained 62 yards on 13 carries for a 4.8 avg. AJ Green, Brandon Tate and Sanzenbacher all had a fumble lost each.
Overall I feel good about the Bengals matched up against the Patriots even on their home field (Unless they tamper with the headsets.
) we'd have Burfict back if we'd have to play them at some point and the defense is back to terrorizing QBs. The Bengals offense is finally living up to it's potential with the return of Eifert and M.Jones and the o-line playing lights out if they can manage the level of consistency throughout the season and into the playoffs it's hard for me imagine them losing to the Patriots but that's just me.
The first match-up was on October 6th, 2013 and with a healthy team and home field advantage the Bengals won the game 13 to 6. The defense smothered the Patriots offense leading to probably the worst performance of Brady's career with 18 of 38 of his passes completed, 197 yard, 0 TDs and 1 INT leaving him with a measly 47.9 rating. A hungry Burfict led the team with 8 tackles (7 solo.) and Gilberry and Atkins got their hands on Brady with a sack each. Chris Crocker actually had a good game with 2 passes deflected, 8 tackles (4 solo.) and he shared a sack with Gilberry. I remember the d-line rotation was chewing up the Pat's o-line leaving Brady flustered. Blount rushed for 51 yards and had a 4.2 avg per carry.
The Bengals offense wasn't turning heads either though. Gio Bernard was our standout player on offense imo even though he lost a fumble he rushed for 62 yard and a 4.8 avg per carry. We were still feeding the rock to Green-Ellis (
) primarily at that point so he only had 13 carries. Green Ellis did get the games only TD but averaged a poor 3.5 avg per carry and had 19 carries. Dalton had a rating of 56.2 with 20/27 passes completed for 212 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT and 4 sacks against him. It was good enough to win the game but not a pretty performance in the passing game. AJ Green was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 61 yards. Eifert wasn't far behind with 5 catches for 53 yards. Brandon Spikes, Devin McCourty and Jerod Mayo were the standouts on the Patriot's defense. Spikes had 12 tackles and and INT, McCourty had 12 tackles and Mayo had 11 tackles. They also had Aqib Talib and Wilfork on their team at the time.The second game was also on October, 6th but a year later in 2014 the Bengals got destroyed in New England in a 17 to 43 blowout. I can remember it being one of the most embarrassing games in recent memory. Brady and the Patriots had enough of hearing the critics after they got thrashed by the Chiefs the week before. Brady put up a 110.7 rating with 23/35 passes completed for 292 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs. Without a 100% Atkins plus a rookie defensive coordinator the pass rush was weak only puttting Brady down once for a sack. They killed us in the running game Stephen Ridley had 27 carries for 113 yards and a TD. Shane Vareen had 9 carries for 90 yards as well. We also got the full Gronk treatment he was their leading receiver with 6 catches for 100 yards and a TD. Our defense was a mess. They were so bad we even let a no name TE Timothy Wright look like an all-pro with 5 catches for 85 yards and a TD. Rey M and Iloka led the team with 9 tackles a piece. Burfict was out.
The Bengals offense was solid but unprepared for what was coming their way none the less. Dalton had 15/24 passes completed for 204 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs for a respectable 117.4 rating. The o-line was solid with only 1 sack given up. AJ Green led the Bengals in receiving with 5 receptions 81 yards and a TD but had a costly fumble. Sanu was efficient with 5 catches for 70 yards and a TD. He was playing his best game at the beginning of that season. Interesting that Jeremy Hill had 3 catches for 68 yards and only 1 rushing yard on 2 carries. Gio led the rushing attack and gained 62 yards on 13 carries for a 4.8 avg. AJ Green, Brandon Tate and Sanzenbacher all had a fumble lost each.
Overall I feel good about the Bengals matched up against the Patriots even on their home field (Unless they tamper with the headsets.
) we'd have Burfict back if we'd have to play them at some point and the defense is back to terrorizing QBs. The Bengals offense is finally living up to it's potential with the return of Eifert and M.Jones and the o-line playing lights out if they can manage the level of consistency throughout the season and into the playoffs it's hard for me imagine them losing to the Patriots but that's just me.
