The Cincinnati Bengals look to keep their record perfect as they journey into Foxboro to take on the suddenly hapless New England Patriots. The Bengals defense looks to continue its strong play while keeping Tom Brady stuck in the rut he's found himself in all season.
Bengals vs. Patriots 2014 live stream: Time, TV schedule, radio and how to watch online
The Bengals, owners of an unblemished record, travel into Foxborough to take on the reeling Patriots.
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
For the first quarter of 2014, perhaps no team has played as complete or consistent football as the Cincinnati Bengals. The offense, now under the direction of Hue Jackson, has seen a rise in play for both quarterback Andy Dalton and tailback Giovani Bernard. That improvement has impacted the scoreboard, producing an average of 26.7 points a game.
Though sitting at an even 2-2, the New England Patriots have been quite the opposite, appearing incapable of protecting their quarterback or slowing down opposing offenses for much of the team’s first four games. Brady has already absorbed nine sacks. At his current pace, he’ll accrue 36 by the end of the season, potentially the third highest single-season total of his career.
Andy Dalton's 2014 season has seen him improve his efficiency while looking downfield more often. He currently averages 8.6 yards per attempt, best in the entire league. Already, he has multiple plays of 70 yards or more. Joining Dalton in starting fast is defensive end Carlos Dunlap. The fifth-year pass rusher has three sacks on the year, putting him on pace for 16.
If left uncorrected, Brady’s struggles could see him set career lows in several key areas. He’s completing 59.1 percent of his passes, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt, and on pace for 16 touchdowns. All would be the worst such single-season totals for the future Hall of Famer. Just as problematically, tight end hasn’t reclaimed his All-Pro form. The ACL tear that ended his 2013 season may still be troubling him, as his 36.8 yards per game would attest.
How to watch
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
When: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Online streaming: NBCSports.com, Verizon NFL Mobile
Further reading
For more on the Bengals, check out Cincy Jungle. For additional coverage of the Patriots, head on over to Pats Pulpit.
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