Monday Night Preview: Patriots vs. Bengals

by Shane M. Dayton

This Monday night game could be a dandy! New England is averaging an extremely consistent 38 points a game (at 38, 38, & 38 in three games) and their defense looks very strong, thanks to the addition of LB Adalius Thomas, who has a speed and game changing ability that the Patriots linebacking corps had not had in recent years....

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The Bengals seem to be in disarray. There is nothing wrong with their offense, which put up a jaw-dropping display against the Browns, but whose defense is atrocious. So why do they have a chance?

Why the Patriots will roll: You have to be able to stop someone before you can outscore them. The Bengals can’t stop the Patriots offense. They don’t have the corners to match up with Wes Welker and Kelly Washington, never mind Donte Stallworth and Randy Moss. The Pats offense will roll over a terrible Cincinnati defense that won’t be able to stop the run, force any turnovers, or slow down the spread. Tom Brady is playing lights out and Randy Moss proves he is still the best receiver in the NFL.

The Pats defense has been great at pressuring opposing quarterbacks, and have kept some pretty decent running games contained. Cincinnati may have the best offense that New England has seen so far, especially with how Norv Turner is working his magic of mediocrity with the Chargers (I thought he’d bring them down a notch, but this is like an NFL version of Notre Dame). The Bengals may very well have the ability to put up some points, but the Pats defense is dangerous, and a mistake or two will seal it with that killer offense.

Why the Bengals will pull the upset: When you see fans that incredibly arrogant after only three games, usually it’s because the team is also reflecting the same attitude. “Pride cometh before the fall,” and the Bengals have an offense to put up forty. If the Pats are looking ahead (and they are looking at Indy and Pittsburgh), then all Cincinnati needs is to be is close in the 4th to pull the upset.

Carson Palmer is one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL right now, and he has two excellent receivers and an excellent running back. This is a home game, and that’s where the Bengals won their game. This is a perfect time to make a statement that they’re not dead yet, and a 1-3 start in that division is serious trouble.

If you can score forty points, you at least have a chance to beat anyone, and the Bengals can do that. They have a chip on their shoulders, and Marvin Lewis knows a win here translates to job security.