Patriots-Bengals Preview Capsule

Posted December 12, 2019 6:00 am

By The Associated Press

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady lands on the turf after being sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-3) at CINCINNATI (1-12)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

OPENING LINE - Patriots by 10ˆ½

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Patriots 7-6; Bengals 5-7-1

SERIES RECORD - Patriots lead 16-9

LAST MEETING - Patriots beat Bengals 35-17, Oct. 16, 2016

LAST WEEK - Patriots lost to Chiefs 23-16; Bengals lost to Browns 27-19

AP PRO32 RANKING - Patriots No. 8, Bengals No. 32

PATRIOTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (15), RUSH (23), PASS (9).

PATRIOTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (1), RUSH (4), PASS (2).

BENGALS OFFENSE - OVERALL (26), RUSH (28), PASS (17).

BENGALS DEFENSE - OVERALL (31), RUSH (32), PASS (19).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Patriots clinch playoff berth with win or tie. '¦ Would extend their NFL record to 11 consecutive playoff berths. It would also mark 21st 11-win season in team history and extend NFL record to 10 consecutive seasons with at least 11 wins. '¦ New England plays final road game of regular season before finishing at home vs Bills and Dolphins. ... Patriots have won six of last seven meetings with Bengals. '¦ QB Tom Brady is 6-1 vs. Bengals. His lone loss was 13-6 at Cincinnati in 2013 when his streak of 52 straight games with TD pass was snapped, second-longest string in NFL history. '¦ Patriots have blocked four punts in 2019, setting franchise record for season. It is most blocks since Philadelphia Eagles blocked four punts in 2014. ... Patriots rank 17th in NFL in third-down conversion percentage (37.4%). Are also scoring on 48% of their red-zone trips, which ranks 27th in league. '¦ Patriots defense leads league with 21 INTs and is sixth in league with 41 sacks. '¦ Patriots have allowed league-low 15 total TDs (six rushing, nine passing). Since NFL went to 16-game schedule, 19 defenses have given up 20 or fewer TDs in full season. '¦ Patriots holding opponents to NFL-low 36 of 159 on third down. Fewest third-down conversions allowed in 16-game season are 49 by 1991 New Orleans Saints. '¦ Brady needs one passing TD for his 17th season with 20 or more, which would surpass Peyton Manning for most all time. '¦ Brady needs four TD passes to pass Manning (539) for most career regular-season TD passes. Saints QB Drew Brees is second with 537 (New Orleans hosts Indianapolis Monday night). '¦ Brady has completed 74.3% of throws for 668 yards, five TDs and no INTs (127.6 rating) in past two games vs. Bengals. '¦ WR Julian Edelman needs 97 yards receiving to set single-season career high (had 1,106 in 2016). '¦ S Devin McCourty is tied for NFL lead with five INTs. '¦ Bengals only team in NFL with one win. They've lost 14 of 15 and 19 of 21 over last two seasons. Bengals have clinched second straight last-place finish in AFC North, first time they've finished at bottom in consecutive seasons since 2001-02. ... Bengals haven't scored TD on an opening drive all season, managing only two field goals. ... RB Joe Mixon had career-high 146 yards rushing in loss to Browns. ... QB Andy Dalton makes third start since returning from three-week benching. Dalton is 44 of 75 (59%) for 505 yards with TD, pick-6 in last two starts. Dalton 1-2 career vs Patriots with three TDs, one INT and 100.2 passer rating. ... Fantasy tip: Mixon will get ball a lot, both as runner and receiver, in Bengals' limited offense.

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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, center, argues a call in the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) scrambles past Cleveland Browns defensive end Chad Thomas (92) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane) The Associated Press

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon rushes during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane) FBN The Associated Press

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