The Bengals host a red-hot Patriots team in Week 12 at Paycor Stadium. New England has rattled off eight straight victories and currently sits at 9-2, leading the AFC East.
Patriots Offense
The Patriots have won eight straight games in a season for the first time with a quarterback not named Tom Brady and the eighth total time in franchise history.
Second-year signal caller Drake Maye has taken a leap in 2025 after a successful rookie campaign. In their Week 11 win over the Jets, Maye became the third player since 1950 with an 80+ passer rating and a win in eight straight games before turning 24, joining Lamar Jackson and Dan Marino.
Maye leads the NFL with 2,836 yards through the air and ranks fourth with 20 passing touchdowns. He's also added 70 carries for 285 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The 2024 first-round pick from North Carolina averages 8.9 yards per completion, the second-most in the NFL behind Seattle QB Sam Darnold. Per Pro Football Focus, Maye's 80.6% adjusted completion percentage leads all quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks.
While Maye has been strong in every aspect of his game, he's been sacked 36 times in 11 games, the second-most sacks taken in the league behind Titans QB Cam Ward, and he's been pressured on 39.2% of his dropbacks, per PFF. Maye's 65.1 PFF-offensive grade when facing pressure is the fifth highest in the NFL among quarterbacks with at least 50 dropbacks under pressure.
Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson has come alive in the last few weeks, scoring five touchdowns in the last two games. Henderson became the second rookie in New England history to score three touchdowns in a single game last week, joining Rob Gronkowski. In the last two games, Henderson has averaged 19.5 touches and 121.5 yards from scrimmage per game after averaging 9.7 touches and 46.0 yards per game in Weeks 1-9.
New England brought in veteran WR Stefon Diggs this offseason, and the four-time Pro Bowler has fit in seamlessly with the offense. Diggs leads the Patriots with 659 receiving yards and 59 receptions. His 71 targets rank 18th in the NFL among wideouts, and his 82.5 PFF-receiving grade ranks 13th. WR Kayshon Boutte has enjoyed a mini breakout season as the team's primary deep threat, averaging 18.7 yards per reception, which ranks seventh in the NFL among receivers with at least 10 targets. Boutte also leads the team with five touchdowns, followed by veteran TE Hunter Henry with four.
Patriots Defense
The Patriots have allowed the eighth-fewest yards per game defensively, giving up 300.6 yards per contest. They've also allowed the fifth-fewest points per game, 18.1, and have allowed more than 23 points in a game just once this season, all the way back in Week 2.
Teams have struggled to run the ball against New England, as the Patriots allow 84.7 yards per game on the ground, the fewest in the NFL. They've also given up just four rushing touchdowns this season (fewest in the NFL) and 3.9 yards per carry (eighth fewest).
LB Robert Spillane has been a key driver in the improved team run defense: His 89.5 PFF-run defense grade ranks fifth among linebackers with at least 50 snaps played this season. Spillane is tied for 10th in the NFL with 90 tackles.
The Patriots have tallied 24 sacks this season, ranking 18th in the NFL. Their leader in sacks, edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson, has 6.5 takedowns this year, tied for 15th in the NFL.
New England has been more susceptible to the passing attack, ranking middle of the pack in yards allowed per game through the air (215.9). CB Christian Gonzalez missed the first three weeks of the season with injury. Since his return, Gonzalez has allowed 22 receptions on 50 targets in coverage for 244 yards, per PFF. The Patriots signed CB Carlton Davis this offseason in an effort to shore up the corner position opposite Gonzalez, and Davis has allowed 27 receptions and four touchdowns on 41 targets in coverage this season.
View images of the Bengals-Patriots series over the years.
WR Ja'Marr Chase hurdles over Patriots defense in the fourth quarter of the Bengals-Patriots game on Saturday, December 24 2022 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (85) greet each other during pregame warmups at their NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday afternoon, Sept. 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
New England Patriots wide receiver Stanley Morgan (86) and Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Scott Perry (32) fight for control of the ball in the first half of an NFL game in Cincinnati, Oct. 15, 1978. Perry ended up with the pass from Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan for an interception. (AP Photo/Brian Horton)
As the crowd at Gillette Stadium jeers them Cincinnati Bengals players Langston Moore (60), John Thornton (97) and Duane Clemons (92) wait to be introduced before the game against the New England Patriots Foxboro, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004. (AP Photo/ Robert E. Klein)
New England Patriots defensive back Brandon Meriweather (31) tackles Cincinnati Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh during an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals' Rudi Johnson, left, runs for a before being brought down by New England Patriots' Asaunte Samuel (22). (AP Photo/David Kohl)
LB Emmanuel Lamur bears down on QB Tom Brady in a game, Oct. 5, 2014.
New England Patriots wide receiver Stanley Morgan is brought down from behind by Cincinnati Bengals Louis Breeden after catching a pass from Patriots quarterback Tony Eason during third quarter NFL action at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Dec. 22, 1985. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
WR Trenton Irwin celebrates a touchdown in the second quarter of the Bengals-Patriots game on Saturday, December 24 2022 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Cincinnati Bengals' Larry Kinnebrew (28) takes to the air to gain some yardage against the New England Patriots during NFL action at Sullivan Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Sunday, Dec. 22, 1985. (AP Photo/Mike Kullen)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs with the football during an NFL game against the New England Patriots, Saturday, Dec.24, 2022 in Foxborough, Mass. The Bengals defeated the Patriots 22-18. (Kathryn Riley via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Eric Rowe (25) reaches in to break up a pass to Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Cris Collinsworth of the Cincinnati Bengals, left, hangs on to the ball as he is halted by Ernest Gibson of the New England Patriots on Oct. 15, 1984. (AP Photo/Dave Tenenbaum)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Perry (23) runs past New England Patriots' Rodney Bailey (96) in the first half in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) covers Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) during an NFL football game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday October 5, 2014 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) is tackled by New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Cincinnati Bengals guard Bobbie Williams (63) lines up against New England Patriots defensive end Mike Wright (99) in the second quarter an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Cincinnati Bengals' wide receiver Chad Johnson, left, catches a pass as he is tackled by New England Patriots' cornerback Ty Law. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
WR Andrei Iosivas catches a pass along the sidelines in Week 1 against the Patriots, Sunday, September 8, 2024.
WR Tee Higgins scores a touchdown in the first quarter of the Bengals-Patriots game on Saturday, December 24 2022 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Bengals defense takes down the Patriots ballcarrier in the second quarter of the Bengals-Patriots game on Saturday, December 24 2022 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh #84 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball after making a catch against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game on Dec. 12, 2004 in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Bengals 35-28. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Zach Carter (95) reacts after a defensive stop during an NFL game against the New England Patriots, Saturday, Dec.24, 2022 in Foxborough, Mass. The Bengals defeated the Patriots 22-18. (Kathryn Riley via AP)
T.J. Houshmandzadeh #84 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates his touchdown catch with teammate Chad Johnson #85 against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game on Oct. 1, 2007 in Cincinnati. The Patriots defeated the Bengals 34-13. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Antonio Chatman #83 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches a pass against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game on Oct. 1, 2007 in Cincinnati. The Patriots defeated the Bengals 34-13. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots gets hit as he throws by Duane Clemons #92 of the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL football game on Dec. 12, 2004 in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Bengals 35-28. (Joe Robbins via AP)
The Bengals and Patriots line up for a snap during a game, Sept. 12, 2010.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) runs the ball against New England Patriots strong safety Patrick Chung, left, in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Bengals CB Dax Hill makes a tackle during Cincinnati's Week 1 game against the New England Patriots at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, September 8, 2024.
A group of New England Patriots defenders make a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 9, 2001 in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated the Patriots 23-17. (Joe Robbins via AP)
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