In the Red Zone

This Week

Cincinnati Bengals @ New England Patriots

The Cincinnati Bengals visit the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday at 8:20 p.m.

This is the second of four games in an 18 day span for the Patriots.

The Bengals = The Patriots
Overall Record 3-0 – Overall Record 2-2
Road Record 1-0 – Home Record 1-0
AFC East 0-0 AFC North 0-0
AFC Conf 2-0 AFC Conf 1-2

Jerome Boger is the referee for the game

The Line/Prediction

As of Thursday the line on the game from sportsbetting.ag via Yahoo Sports has the game as Patriots PLUS 1. The over/under is 46.

My Prediction is Bengals 33, Patriots, 24. Give the points (Bengals) and take the over. I am 2-2 against the spread and 1 of 4 on calling the over/under in 2014.

Tickets

The Patriots are reporting the game as a sell out. It is the 220th consecutive sell out dating back to the 1994 season opener. The record includes preseason, regular season and playoff games.

Tickets to the game, if available, can be purchased through Ticketmaster. You can check the availability here.

After market tickets are available through the Official Patriots Ticket Exchange where season ticket holders can sell their unused seats to fans on the season ticket waiting list.

Getting to the Game

If you’re lucky enough to be going to the game in Foxboro make sure you check out the links.

Here is the up to date weather forecast from the Weather Channel for Foxboro MA.

Click for all the game day information including Gillette Stadium directions, parking information, seating chart and map.

Tailgating

Here’s a bunch of different tailgating recipes from Tailgating.com. There’s something there for everyone and every type of meal or snack. I’ve tried some of the recipes and they’re very good.

And with tailgating many people enjoy some adult beverages. With that in mind check out Drink Nation for how to make all sorts of great drinks. You can look things up by name, ingredient(s) or theme.

Whether it’s at the game, a bar or a friend’s house moderation is always the key to a great time. Please don’t drink and drive and designate a sober driver. Remember drive sober or get pulled over.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television

NBC in televising the game nationally and Al Michaels will do play by play while Cris Collinsworth will provide the game analysis and Michele Tafoya will cover the sidelines. You can look here for your local affiliate.

There is no DirecTV Sunday Ticket designation as the game is broadcast nationally.

Here are all the rules on NFL TV broadcasts including explaining the blackout rules; flex scheduling and commercial breaks.

Radio

The Patriots Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBZ-FM, 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston. Bob Socci handles the play-by-play and former Patriots QB Scott Zolak will do game analysis. It all starts with Gary Tanguay and Andy Gresh with the pregame show at 5 p.m. on the network. The post game starts after the final gun and continues for three hours along the network.

The Patriots Radio Network call is available on Sirius Channel 92, XM Channel 226 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 818.

The Bengals Radio Network has former PawSox announcer Dan Hoard calling play by play and Dave Lapham doing the color via their flagship stations WCKY-AM ESPN 1530, WLW AM 700 and WEBN-FM 102.7.

Their call is available on Sirius Channel 93, XM Channel 225 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 806.

Westwood One will broadcast the game nationally with Kevin Kugler, James Lofton and Anthony Becht calling the game.

Their call is available on Sirius Channel 84, XM Channel 227 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 963

Patriots All Access

Patriots All-Access features behind the scenes looks, interviews and breakdowns with head coach Bill Belichick and in depth features on the team. It’s hosted by Steve Burton of WBZ-TV (Boston) and airs weekly in most New England television markets.

  • Boston MA on TV 38 Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
  • Providence RI on WNAC Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
  • Manchester NH on WMUR Saturday at midnight
  • Portland ME on WMTW Saturday at 5 a.m.
  • Hartford CT on WCTX Saturday at 5 p.m.
  • Springfield MA on WFXQ Saturday at 7 p.m.
  • Bangor ME on WVII Sunday at 11 a.m.

You can also watch it anytime on the teams website in the media section.

Last Week

The Patriots got crushed in Kansas City by the Chiefs on MNF, 41-14.

The Bengals had their bye week after beating the Titans at home in Week 3, 33-7.

History

  • This is the 24th meeting between the Patriots and the Bengals all since 1968.
  • New England leads the series 14-9.
  • Patriots have won 7 of the last 9 meetings.
  • New England is 8-2 as the home team in the series.
  • First visit by Cincinnati since 2010.
  • The Bengals won the last meeting between the teams in 2013 at Paul Brown Stadium 13-6.

Patriots Team Notes

New England PatriotsHere is the Patriots roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.

2014 Patriots Schedule/Results

The Patriots overall franchise record is 440-375-9. They have won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) in seven appearances. Overall they are 25-18 in the post season.

They last appeared in the playoffs in 2013 when they beat Indianapolis in the AFC Divisional Round 43-22 and lost at Denver 26-16 in the AFC Championship Game.

It was the 3rd consecutive AFC Championship game appearance for the franchise and 10th overall. They are 7-3 in those AFC title games.

The Patriots were 12-4 (1-1 in playoffs) in 2013 and are the defending five-time AFC East Champions. They have won the division 11 times and the conference 5 times since 2000.

New England is the only NFL team to finish .500 or better in each of the last 13 seasons (2001-2013).

They have 11 consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins.

They are the first team in the free agency era (1993) to win more than half their games in a 13-season span.

New England is 20-16 on SNF, 12-6 as the home team and 7-4 at Gillette Stadium.

Since 2003 the Patriots have the NFL’s best record at 140-40.

Since October 2003 the Patriots are a NFL best 37-9 in October games including a home record of 22-1.

They have won 28 of their last 32 October games.

New England is 18-6 vs. the AFC North since the realignment of the divisions in 2002.

Patriots have a 31 game home win streak against the AFC. It is the longest win streak ever by one team against a conference.

The last regular season home loss was November 30, 2008 vs. Pittsburgh, 33-10.

Since 2003 the Patriots are 35-4 in the regular season after a loss.

Patriots have scored 54 of their 80 points in the first half, with 34 coming in the second quarter.

New England has 33 penalties this season in four weeks and has been penalized 352 yards.

Patriots have had multiple turnovers on both losses this season while having no turnovers in both wins.

Monday night was the first game this season they did not have a takeaway.

New England is PLUS 3 in turnover differential tied for 7th in the NFL. They have 6 INT and have recovered 2 fumbles while they have thrown 2 INT’s and lost 3 fumbles.

The Patriots are 24th in points scored averaging 20.0 points per game and are tied for 14th in points allowed with 22.5 points per game.

This is the 21st season of Patriots ownership by the Kraft family. Since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994 they:

  • Have the most Super Bowl wins, 3.
  • Have the most regular season wins, 219.
  • Have the most wins including playoffs, 240.
  • Have the most conference titles, 6.
  • Have the most division titles, 13.
  • Have the most playoff wins, 21
  • Have played the most playoff games, 33.
  • Are tied for the most playoff seasons, 15.
  • The fewest head coaches within the division, 3.
  • Have drafted the most Pro Bowl players, 20.

From 1960 to 1993 the New England/Boston Patriots won a total of 225 games.

Patriots Staff Notes

This is the link to head coach Bill Belichick’s Wednesday press conference on the Bengals. #OnToCincinnati

Bill Belichick is 13-4 against the Bengals; 5-2 as the head coach in New England and 8-2 as the head coach in Cleveland.

Overall in his NFL career Belichick is 201-106 in his 20th NFL season as a head coach. He is 165-62 with New England and 36-44 with Cleveland. He is 19-9 in the playoffs, 18-8 as head coach of the Patriots in the post season. When you combine his regular season and post season records he is 220-115.

Belichick’s 220 wins are good for 5th all-time. Hall of Fame member Curly Lambeau is 4th with 229 wins.

He has won 5 conference titles; he needs one more to tied Don Shula’s record of 6.

He is the first head coach to have had 4 teams that scored at least 500 points in a season.

Belichick is one of five head coaches in NFL history whose father (Steve Belichick) played in the league. The others are former Kansas City head coach Todd Haley (Dick Haley), former San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan (Dick Nolan), former Cincinnati head coach David Shula (Don Shula) and former NY Jets head coach Joe Walton (Frank Walton).

Belichick is one of just four coaches to win three Super Bowls, joining Chuck Noll (4), Joe Gibbs (3) and Bill Walsh (3). Those men are all in the Hall of Fame.

He is the only coach in NFL history to win three championship titles in four seasons.

No coach either as the head coach or an assistant has appeared in more Super Bowls than Belichick who has been to 8 (five as a head coach).

He is the only coach in NFL history to have led his team to 10+ wins in 11 consecutive seasons.

He has been NFL Coach of the Year three times he and Chuck Knox are the only three time winners, while Don Shula won four times.

Cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer is a native of Heath OH and served as a graduate assistant at Dayton in 2001.

Patriots Possible Starters

Offense:

  • LT: Solder
  • LG: Connolly
  • C: Stork
  • RG: Wendell
  • RT: Vollmer
  • TE: Gronkowski
  • WR: Amendola
  • WR: Edelman
  • WR: LaFell
  • QB: Brady
  • RB: Vereen

Defense:

  • DE: Ninkovich
  • DT: Chr. Jones
  • DT: Wilfork
  • DE: Easley
  • LB: White
  • LB: Mayo
  • LB: Skinner
  • LCB: Revis
  • RCB: Ryan
  • S: Chung
  • S: McCourty

Patriots Players Notes

Tom Brady Notes:

  • This is his 15th NFL season he is 4-1 vs. the Bengals in his career. He is 84-13 at home in the regular season.
  • Overall he is 150-45 as a starting QB and is 18-8 in the playoffs for an overall record of 168-53. He is a 9 time Pro Bowl QB; 3 time All-Pro selection; two time NFL MVP and has won 3 Super Bowls while twice being named the games MVP. He is also listed as the 21st Greatest Player in the History of the NFL according to the NFL Network.
  • He now has 41 wins in his career (34 in the regular season and 7 in the playoffs) in which the team was trailing or tied in the fourth quarter. He had 5 comeback wins in 2013.
  • The 5 comeback wins in 2013 tie his career best set in 2003.
  • Threw his first INT’s of the season Week 4 at Kansas City.
  • 363 TD passes in his career makes him 5th in NFL history 2 TD passes behind John Elway.
  • 150 career wins are 3rd all-time behind only Brett Favre and Peyton Manning.
  • He has thrown for 2 or more TD’s in 115 games; the team’s record is 98-17.
  • Needs 60 passing yards for 50,000 in his career. He is 6th all-time in passing yards.
  • In 4 games he has fumbled 5 times losing 3 of them to the opponent.

Jimmy Garoppolo notes:

  • Played in his first NFL game relieving Brady in the 4th quarter Week 4 at Kansas City.
  • In his first game he was 6 of 7 for 70 yards and threw his first NFL TD pass.

Rob Gronkowski notes:

  • Has caught a pass in 54 consecutive games it’s the 4th longest streak all-time for a tight end. Heath Miller is 3rd with a catch in 85 consecutive games.
  • Leads team in TD’s with 3.
  • He is 10th in points in franchise history.
  • Is 7th in team history with 46 touchdowns.
  • He is 4th in team history with 45 TD catches.

Julian Edelman notes:

  • Had a streak of 9 consecutive games with at least 6 catches come to end Week 4 at Kansas City.
  • Has 4 career games with 10 or more catches after a 10-catch game Week 3 vs. Oakland.
  • Leads team in receiving with 26 catches for 283 yards.
  • Had a 34-yard punt return at Minnesota Week 2 it was the 11th punt return of 30 yards or more in his career. That ranks third in team history.
  • Opened the season with a 95 receiving yards at Miami and added 81 yards receiving at Minnesota Week 2.
  • Had 156 total yards Week 2 at Minnesota (81 receiving, 9 rushing and 66 on punt returns).

Brandon LaFell notes:

  • Had his first significant game as a Patriot Week 4 at Kansas City.
  • Had 6 catches for 119 yards and a TD at Kansas City Week 4.
  • TD catch vs. Chiefs was for 44-yards. It was his first as a Patriot.

Stevan Ridley notes:

  • Had his first 100- yard rushing game of the season Week 2 at Minnesota when he ran for 101 yards on 25 carries and had 1 TD.
  • Leads team in rushing with 204 yards on 57 carries.

Stephen Gostkowski notes:

  • Has converted 27 consecutive 4th quarter field goals.
  • Has not missed an extra point since Week 17 2006 at Tennessee in his rookie season. He has made 369 consecutive extra points. He is 407 for 408 in his career.
  • The 369 XPA converted in a row is fourth longest streak in NFL history.
  • Lead NFL in scoring in both 2012 and 2013.
  • Has scored at least 1 point in 111 consecutive games a franchise record.
  • He is 3rd in team history in points with 1,055 trailing only Gino Cappelletti (1,130) and Adam Vinatieri (1,158).
  • Has team record of 12 career field goals of 50+ yards.

Vince Wilfork notes:

  • Played only 4 games in 2013 after suffering a torn Achilles.
  • Prior to 2013 had played in all 16 games in 5 of the previous 6 seasons.
  • Had his 3rd career INT vs. Oakland Week 3. He is the first Patriots lineman to have 3 career INT’s.
  • Has an INT against the Raiders in each of the last two games against them.
  • Has 7 fumbles recoveries since 2010 the second most in the NFL in that span behind teammate Rob Ninkovich.

Darrelle Revis notes:

  • Has 22 career INT’s and is one of the top shutdown corners in the NFL.
  • Since 2007 has the most passes defensed in the NFL with 110 including a record 31 in 2009.
  • In Patriots debut Week 1 at Miami had 1 tackles, 2 passes defensed and recovered a fumble.
  • Had his first Patriots INT Week 2 at Minnesota against Matt Cassel. Also had 3 tackles and 1 pass defensed.

Jerod Mayo notes:

  • Leads team with 39 tackles (28 solo).
  • Had streak of five consecutive 100+ tackle seasons snapped last year due to injury. He has led the team in tackles in those five seasons (2008-2012).
  • Shares franchise record for leading team in tackles for 5 seasons with Steve Nelson and Vincent Brown.
  • Week 1 at Miami he had 12 tackles and the teams only sack.

Rob Ninkovich notes:

  • In 6 seasons with New England has only missed one game.
  • Week 2 at Minnesota had 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and 2 QB hits.

Dont’a Hightower notes:

  • Second on team in tackles with 22 (19 solo).
  • Second on team with 2 sacks.
  • Along with Chandler Jones he led team with 8 tackles and 2 sacks Week 2 at Minnesota. He also had 2 tackles for loss, 2 QB hits and 1 pass defensed.
  • Had his first career 2-sack game Week 2 at Minnesota.

Chandler Jones notes:

  • Third on team in tackles with 16 (9 solo).
  • First on team with 2.5 sacks.
  • Scored his 2nd NFL TD Week 2 at Minnesota when he blocked a field goal attempt and returned it 58-yards. His first NFL TD was Week 16, 2013 at Baltimore on a fumble recovery. It was his second blocked field goal attempt (2013 Week 8 vs. Miami).
  • Had the 5th blocked field goal returned for a TD in Patriots history Week 2 at Minnesota, first since 2010 when Patrick Chung returned one at Miami.
  • Now has 5 career 2-sack games with a pair at Minnesota in Week 2.
  • Along with Dont’a Hightower he led team with 8 tackles and 2 sacks Week 2 at Minnesota. He also had 3 tackles for loss, 3 QB hits, the blocked field goal attempt and return for TD.

There are only two players on the team who played on at least one of the Super Bowl championship teams, Brady (3) and Wilfork (1).

Roster moves this week:

Patriots team captains for 2014:

Former Bengals on the Patriots:

Players with New England roots:

  • none

Players with Ohio roots:

Players from New England based colleges and universities:

  • RB James Develin – Brown

Players from Ohio based colleges and universities:

  • WR Kenbrell Thompkins – Cincinnati
  • G Josh Kline – Kent State
  • WR Julian Edelman – Kent State
  • S Nate Ebner – Ohio State

The Patriots have 6 retired numbers:

  • 20 – Gino Cappelletti
  • 40 – Mike Haynes
  • 73 – John Hannah
  • 78 – Bruce Armstrong
  • 79 – Jim Lee Hunt
  • 89 – Bob Dee

Bengals Team Notes

Cincinnati BengalsHere is the Bengals roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.

2014 Bengals Schedule/Results

Cincinnati’s all-time record is 319-390-2 they are 5-12 in the post season with their last post season appearance coming in 2013 when they lost to San Diego at home in the AFC Wildcard Game.

The Bengals have played in two Super Bowls and lost in both appearances to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI (26-21) and Super Bowl XXIII (20-16).

Cincinnati is the AFC’s only unbeaten team. Only Arizona in the NFC is also unbeaten.

Bengals are just 2-8 as the road team in the series.

They last won in Foxboro in 1986, they also won in Foxboro in 1972. Both times the score was 31-7.

Cincinnati is 3-12 on SNF and just 1-8 on the road. The last won a SNF game on the road in 1992 at Chicago.

Under Marvin Lewis the Bengals are 4-7 after their bye week.

Cincinnati will wear white jerseys and white game pants on Sunday. Since 2004 the Bengals are 14-21 in the white/white combo.

Bengals return 9 starters on offense and 8 starters on defense from their game against the Patriots in 2013.

Have been penalized 18 times for 150 yards.

Cincinnati is PLUS 6 in turnover differential tied for 1st in the NFL. They have 6 INT’s and have recovered 1 fumble while they have thrown 1 INT and lost 0 fumbles.

The Bengals are 6th in points scored averaging 26.7 points per game and are 1st in points allowed with also 11.0 points per game.

Bengals Staff Notes

Read what Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis had to say to the New England media about the match up.

Lewis is in his 12th season with the team, he is 93-85-1 since taking over and is 0-5 in the playoffs for an overall record of 93-90-1.

His 93 wins are most for a head coach in Bengals history.

He is 39-50 as the Bengals coach on the road.

Second longest tenured head coach with one team behind Bill Belichick.

He has only had 5 winning seasons in the previous 11 years. Three times he has been at .500 and three times he has a losing record.

He is 1-4 vs. New England in his career.

Was defensive coordinator for the 2000 Baltimore Ravens who won Super Bowl XXXV and are considered one of the best defenses of all-time.

President Mike Brown graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover NH in 1957 and played quarterback on the Big Green football team. He also went on to graduate from Harvard Law School in 1959.

Executive Vice President Katie Blackburn also attended Dartmouth College, where she played on the women’s ice hockey team.

Strength and Conditioning Coach Chip Morton is a native of Hamden CT.

Linebackers coach Matt Burke is a native of Hudson MA. He played safety at Dartmouth College. He began his coaching career at Bridgeton ME Academy from 1998-99 before elevating to the college ranks as a graduate assistant at Boston College from 2000-02 and an assistant at Harvard in 2003.

Bengals Possible Starters

Offense:

  • LT: Whitworth
  • LG: Boling
  • C: Bodine
  • RG: Johnson
  • RT: An. Smith
  • TE: Gresham
  • TE: Eifert
  • WR: Green
  • WR: Sanu
  • QB: Dalton
  • RB: Bernard

Defense:

  • DE: Dunlap
  • DT: Peko
  • DT Atkins
  • DE: Gilberry
  • LB: Lamur
  • LB: Maualuga
  • LB: Porter
  • LCB: Newman
  • RCB: Hall
  • S: Williams
  • S: Nelson

Bengals Players Notes

Andy Dalton notes:

  • He is 32-18 in his career in the regular season and 0-3 in the playoffs for an overall record of 32-21 in 4 seasons.
  • Dalton was a 2nd round draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft out of TCU.
  • In his career Dalton is 1-0 vs. New England.
  • Has thrown 37 career red zone TD’s and no INT’s in the red zone.
  • Has led the Bengals to the playoffs in his first 3 seasons.
  • Has just 2 TD’s but only 1 INT in 2014.
  • Had season high 25 for 38 with 301 passing yards and 1 TD Week 1 at Baltimore.
  • In 2013 vs. New England was 20 of 27 with 0 TD and 1 INT.

Jermaine Gresham notes:

  • Only Bengals TE to have three seasons with 50 or more catches.
  • Two-time Pro Bowl TE.
  • Career high in TD’s is 6 in 2011.
  • Best overall season was 2012 64 catches, 737 yards and 5 TD’s.
  • Has 6 catches for just 46 yards and 0 TD’s in 2014.
  • Biggest game this season was Week 2 vs. Atlanta had 3 catches for 25 yards.
  • In two career games vs. Patriots has 5 catches for 25 yards and 1 TD.

A.J. Green notes:

  • Three time Pro Bowl Selection
  • Has had 3 seasons with 1000+ yards receiving and 2 seasons each with 11 TD catches and 97+ receptions.
  • Leads the team with 12 catches, 233 yards and 1 TD receiving through Week 4.
  • Had 6 catches for 131 yards and 1 TD Week 1 at Baltimore
  • Was shot out by Atlanta had zero catches vs. the Falcons Week 2.
  • Had 6 catches for 102 yards vs. Titans Week 3.
  • Had 5 catches for 61 yards vs. New England in 2013.

Giovanni Bernard notes:

  • Leads team with 185 rushing yards on 55 carries and 3 TD’s.
  • Also has 12 catches for 148 yards.
  • Had 90 yards on 27 carries with a TD Week 2 vs. Atlanta
  • Had 2 TD’s Week 3 vs. Tennessee.
  • In 2013 had 62 yards on 13 carries vs. New England.

Brandon Tate notes:

  • Former Patriots WR drafted by New England in 2009.
  • Signed with Cincinnati in 2011.
  • Has 6 catches for 74 yards in 2014 but is yet to score a TD.
  • Had a season high 4 catches Week 1 at Baltimore.
  • Had a season long 50-yard catch Week 2 vs. Atlanta.
  • Has more catches in 2 seasons as a Patriot (24, 3 TD’s) than in 3 plus seasons as a Bengal (20, 1 TD).

Adam Jones notes:

  • Has 81 punt returns since his last fair catch on a punt.
  • Leads NFL in punt return average with 17.8 yards per return.
  • Has 5 TD’s in his career on punt returns.

Bengals CB Darqueze Dennard is the cousin of Patriots CB Alfonzo Dennard.

Former Patriots on the Bengals:

  • WR Brandon Tate

Players with New England roots:

  • none

Players from New England based colleges and universities:

The Bengals have 1 retired number:

  • 54- Bob Johnson

Next Week

Buffalo BillsUp next: Buffalo Bills – AFC East

Location: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park NY

Date/Time: Sunday October 12 at 1 p.m.

TV Network: FOX