At 1:00 p.m. the Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) will host the New England Patriots (4-0) and in the process bounce back from a discouraging loss against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4. The game can be live streamed here; Patriots fans can catch the radio broadcast on 98.5 The Hub, while Bengals fans can hear the action on ESPN 1530.
The Bengals are coming off a dispiriting loss in which Andy Dalton and the Cincy offense couldn't get untracked. Today, they may try to establish the run early though to gain rhythm; the Patriots will be without key run stuffer Vince Wilfork in the middle of the defense.
"You just don't replace Vince Wilfork," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said. "We'll still have his presence around the team and in the locker room and those types of things, which he's great at. On the field we'll miss him, but whoever is out there, those other 11 guys that are out there, we're all going to have to pull a little bit harder."
Despite Cincinnati's poor output last week, Belichick is not taking them lightly. "I feel like we're going up against a real explosive team this week," Belichick said. "They're a good football team that can really score from any place on the field with any of their units. I think those are the kind of things that we really have to do a good job on -- taking care of the ball, being able to handle their explosive players and explosive plays and staying out of long-yardage and bad situations offensively."
It is unclear whether New England's offensive attack will be at full strength in Cincinnati; tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Danny Amendola, Tom Brady's top weapons, are both still questionable. Making matters worse, running backs Stevan Ridley and Brandon Bolden are question marks, as is rookie receiver Kenbrell Thompkins.
None of that may matter though, if the Bengals fail to put points on the board. "I think we haven't played to our potential yet," Dalton said. "We've done some good things and we've done some things that have hurt us. The biggest thing is, we've got to keep getting better. I expect that, especially this week."
Patriots Injury Report:
WR |
Groin |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
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CB |
Groin |
Full Participation in Practice |
Probable |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DT |
-- |
Did Not Participate In Practice |
-- |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S |
-- |
Limited Participation in Practice |
-- |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T |
Foot |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WR |
Neck |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LB |
Ankle |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RB |
Knee |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RB |
Thigh |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S |
Hamstring |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RB |
Knee |
Did Not Participate In Practice |
Out |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CB |
-- |
Limited Participation in Practice |
-- |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WR |
Shoulder |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TE |
-- |
Limited Participation in Practice |
-- |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WR |
Wrist |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Doubtful |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TE |
Back |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T |
Knee |
Full Participation in Practice |
Probable |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LB |
Knee |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bengals Injury Report: |
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