The New England Patriots (2-2) will try to hand the Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) their first loss of the season in a clash of AFC teams on Sunday Night Football.
How to watch ‘Sunday Night Football’: Live stream, start time and TV schedule
The Patriots look to end the Bengals perfect season in a Sunday Night Football matchup at Gillette Stadium.
Jamie Sabau
Entering Week 5 the Bengals were one of two remaining unbeaten teams in the league (also the Arizona Cardinals), marking just the fourth time since realignment in 2002 that there's been two or fewer unbeaten teams after four weeks. That's typical of the NFL this season, which is seeing unprecedented parity at the quarter-pole mark. The only other time in the last 25 seasons the Bengals won their first four games was in 2005, a season that ended with a division title but also a shocking loss in the Wild Card playoff round.
The Bengals’ success this season is rooted in a physical, aggressive defense that has allowed a league-low 11 points per game and fewer than five yards per play. That has allowed them to jump out to early leads and control the clock with a balanced offensive attack. The Bengals have played only two snaps when trailing this season, easily the fewest in the NFL. If the Bengals are going to beat the Patriots, however, they’ll have to overcome their recent struggles on the road in spotlight games. The team has lost 12 of its last 13 primetime games away from home dating back to 1998, with the only win coming at Philadelphia on a Thursday night in Week 15 of 2012.
The Patriots are coming off an ugly 41-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, their second-worst defeat under coach Bill Belichick. They are 2-2 on the season and trying to avoid falling under .500 after five games for the first time since 2001. The good news for the Patriots is that AFC East is a mess. Entering Week 5, none of the four teams had winning records and they were a combined 5-7 against all other divisions, with three of the five wins coming versus the winless Oakland Raiders.
Tom Brady is approaching a statistical milestone (needs 60 passing yards to reach 50,000 for his career) but that might be the only highlight of his season so far. He is on pace for career-worst marks in completion percentage, passer rating and yards per attempt, and has just four touchdown passes in four games. One of the most glaring shortcomings for him this season is with the deep ball. He is just 1 for 16 on passing attempts targeted 20 or more yards downfield, the worst completion percentage on those throws of any qualified quarterback.
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
Odds
The game is currently a pick ‘em, with the over/under set at 46, according to Oddshark.com.
Further reading
For more on the Bengals, check out Cincy Jungle. For additional coverage of the Patriots, head on over to Pats Pulpit.
See More:
