Four Studs, Four Duds From Patriots’ Concerning Win Over Bengals

The New England Patriots became the first team in the NFL to win 10 games this season when they handed the Cincinnati Bengals a 26-20 defeat in Week 12. The win was the Patriots’ ninth-straight, and yet, this was perhaps their most concerning victory during that stretch.

Injuries are beginning to pop up with alarming frequency, which is leading to more and more holes for the coaching staff to fix. Against the Bengals, the team did just enough to pull out a win, so let’s take a look back at the action and pick out four studs and four duds from this game.

Studs

Marcus Jones

When the Pats need a big play, Marcus Jones always seems to step up and deliver. Jones recorded a 33-yard pick-six of Joe Flacco in the second quarter to give New England a 14-10 lead it would not relinquish. Jones also had five tackles and two pass deflections, with the second coming on a last gasp fourth down attempt that ended Cincy’s comeback hopes.

Carlton Davis III

It was a fairly quiet game for Carlton Davis III until the fourth quarter, when Flacco continually targeted him. The results weren’t great for him, as Davis racked up three pass deflections, while also pacing the defense with eight tackles. In one quarter, Davis showed exactly why the Patriots handed him a three-year, $60 million contract in free agency.

Hunter Henry

On a day when the passing attack wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders, Hunter Henry was the lone source of consistency. He led all receivers with seven receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown, and he could have had another if it weren’t for a ticky-tack offensive pass interference call on Mack Hollins.

Andy Borregales

New England needed every point it could get in this game, which made Andy Borregales’ perfect day all the more important. Borregales hit all four of his field goal attempts and both of his extra point attempts, with his 52-yarder late in the fourth quarter proving to be very important in helping his team hold onto this win.

Duds

Rhamondre Stevenson

In his first game back from a three-game absence due to injury, Rhamondre Stevenson did virtually nothing to prove he deserves snaps over TreVeyon Henderson. Stevenson picked up just five yards on six carries, while also catching one pass for five yards. He also got stuffed twice on goal-to-go situations, and he’s lucky that didn’t come back to bite the team.

Christian Gonzalez

With Ja’Marr Chase suspended for this game, it seemed like Christian Gonzalez would wreak havoc on the Bengals’ passing attack. Instead, he had his worst game of the year. While he had three tackles, his coverage wasn’t particularly sticky, and he put up virtually no resistance while shadowing Mitchell Tinsley on his 17-yard touchdown reception.

K’Lavon Chaisson

For much of the season, K’Lavon Chaisson has been the Pats’ most disruptive defensive lineman, but he was practically invisible in this game. He had just one tackle when all was said and done, and he committed a foolish encroachment penalty in a 4th & 5 situation where it didn’t seem like Cincy was even going to run a play.

Drake Maye

The final numbers for Drake Maye (22/35, 294 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT, 5 CAR, 22 YDS) aren’t bad, but this was not his best game. Maye was awful in the first quarter, and while he eventually found his footing, the offense settled for field goals instead of touchdowns too frequently. Expectations have risen for Maye, and he needs to be better moving forward.