TEAM NOTES
BOUNCING BACK AFTER A LOSS
Since the beginning of the 2003 season, the Patriots are now 36-4 (.900) in regular-season games following a loss. New England's 43-17 win over Cincinnati was its ninth straight victory in games immediately following a loss. The Patriots have dropped back-to-back regular season games just four times since 2003 (2006, 2009, 2011 and 2012), and have not had a losing streak of three or more games since 2002. As a starter, Tom Brady is 37-8 in games following a loss. The Patriots have won their last three games following a loss by an average of 27.7 points.
PATRIOTS ARE WICKED GOOD IN OCTOBER
The Patriots are an NFL-best 38-9 in the month of October since the 2003 season. The Patriots are 23-1 (.958) at home during that time in October. The Patriots' only home loss in October since 2003 was a 41-17 victory by the visiting San Diego Chargers on Oct. 2, 2005.
**
PATS RECOVER 3 OPPONENT FUMBLES FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2012**
The Patriots recovered three Cincinnati fumbles tonight and converted those three turnovers into a total of 13 points. The last time New England recovered three or more opponents fumbles was on November 22, 2012, when they recovered four New York Jets fumbles on Thanksgiving night in New York. Against the Bengals, Darrelle Revis forced an A.J. Green fumble in the second quarter, and Jamie Collins recovered the loose ball to set up a New England field goal drive. In the third quarter, Brandon Bolden forced Cincinnati's Brandon Tate to fumble on a kickoff return, and Kyle Arrington recovered and returned the fumble nine yards for a touchdown. Then in the fourth quarter, Arrington forced Dane Sanznbacher to fumble following a reception and Duron Harmon recovered the loose ball to set up another New England field goal drive.
HOME SWEET HOME FOR THE PATRIOTS; IMPROVE TO 32 STRAIGHT HOME WINS AGAINST THE AFC CONFERENCE
The Patriots improved to 83-15 (.847) at Gillette Stadium in regular season games. With today's victory over Cincinnati, New England has now won 32 straight games at home against AFC conference opponents. The Patriots' 32 straight home wins against a conference is the longest in NFL history (following the 1970 merger). The Miami Dolphins are second in NFL history with 21 straight home conference wins (1971-1974). Cincinnati has the second longest active streak with nine straight home conference wins. The Patriots last loss at home against an AFC opponent was a 33-10 loss vs. Pittsburgh on Nov. 30, 2008.
PATRIOTS WIN 11th STRAIGHT HOME GAME
The Patriots won their 11th consecutive home game, tying the Bengals for the longest current home winning streak in the NFL. The Patriots have not lost a regular-season home game since December 16, 2012, when San Francisco left Foxborough with a 41-34 win.
MOST CONSECUTIVE HOME VICTORIES (Current Streaks)
New England 11
Cincinnati 11
New Orleans 10
Philadelphia 7
San Diego 5
PATS SCORE ON FIRST TWO OFFENSIVE DRIVES FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2012
The Patriots scored touchdowns on their first two offensive drives against the Bengals. The last time the Patriot scored touchdowns on their first two offensive drives was in a 42-14 win vs. Houston on Monday Night Football on Dec. 10, 2012. It also marked the first time in 2014 that the Patriots scored first.
PATRIOTS EXTEND STREAK TO 43 STRAIGHT HOME GAMES WITH AT LEAST 1 TD PASS
The Patriots extended their streak 43 straight home games with at least one touchdown pass, the longest streak in post-merger NFL history, with the 17-yard touchdown pass from QB Tom Brady to TE Tim Wright in the first quarter. New Orleans has the second longest streak with 40, including today's games. The last time the Patriots did not have a touchdown pass in a home game was in a 33-10 loss vs. Pittsburgh on Dec. 30, 2008.
**
The New England Patriots take on the Cincinnati Bengals during Sunday Night Football at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, October 5, 2014.
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) runs after catching a pass from Tom Brady in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, in Foxborough, Mass. With the completion, Brady becomes the sixth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 50,000 career passing yards. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Tom Brady, QB -- There is no doubt that Brady is having a great year despite dealing with the injury challenges to his line and, now, his weapons. No. 12 has had a few turnovers in recent weeks, which is less than ideal, and must clean that up with a surrounding cast that continues to change.
Malcom Brown, DL - The Patriots first-round pick has been improving by the week and has impressed Bill Belichick of late. Brown is a key cog in the middle of New England's No. 2 run defense that will be the defensive key in this meeting with Rex Ryan's ground-and-pound Bills.
Ronald Darby, CB -- Buffalo's rookie cornerback has been on the rise in recent weeks and playing very good, physical football. Tom Brady now has to deal with a pair of impressive corners in Darby and Stephon Gilmore who are allowing the Bills to be a little more aggressive and creative defensively.
Rob Gronkowski, TE -- New England's all-world tight end almost always has a big game against his hometown team, including 113 yards and a touchdown back in Week 2 in Buffalo. The Bills supposedly have a plan to take Gronkowski out of the game on Monday night. Good luck with that.
Brandon LaFell, WR -- With Julian Edelman sidelined and Dion Lewis on IR, the Patriots will be looking to diversify the passing attack. After opening the year on PUP, LaFell is working his way into midseason form and could be ready for a bigger role in offensive game plan.
LeSean McCoy, RB -- The former Eagles star seems to be settling into his role as the centerpiece of the Bills offense. Now healthy, McCoy is coming off his first two 100-yard games in Buffalo and has averaged better than 5 yards per carry in three of his last four games to pace the Bills No. 2 rushing attack that will take on the Patriots impressive rush defense.
Rex Ryan, Head Coach -- Buffalo's blustery coach is always at the center of attention for every game his team plays. Ryan, who has lost seven of the last eight against the Patriots, got a little snippy with the New England media this week. Ryan's game plans have given the Patriots problems in the past and an upset this week would certainly make waves across the NFL.
Tyrod Taylor, QB -- Statistically, Taylor is having an incredible season as a first-year starter in Buffalo. But is he capable of making enough plays in the air at key times on the road in New England to lead his team to victory? That's still very much in question.
Sebastian Vollmer, T -- The veteran tackle was one of three injured linemen to return to practice this week. If Vollmer can get back on the field, likely to play left tackle, it would be a big step toward stabilizing the offensive line in this battle with an impressive Bills front.
Mario WIlliams, DE -- The Bills only have 14 sacks as a team, but Williams has three of them. The veteran $100 million man challenges the edges with a combination of athleticism and power, an issue regardless of who lines up at right tackle for the Patriots in this prime time battle.
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski celebrates his touchdown catch against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
New England Patriots vs Cincinnati Bengals October 5, 2014 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA.
Photo By: KEITH NORDSTROM
PATS HAVE WON 69 STRAIGHT HOME GAMES WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF**
The Patriots have now won 69 straight home games when leading at halftime, adding to their NFL record. The last time the Patriots lost at home after leading at halftime was on Dec. 24, 2000 (vs. Miami) when they Patriots lost 27-24 after leading 21-17 at halftime. Tonight, the Patriots were leading 20-3 at halftime and won the game 43-17.
PATS IMPROVE TO 39-1 SINCE 2000 WHEN A PATRIOT REACHES 100 YARDS RUSHING
The Patriots are now 39-1 since 2000 when a Patriots player eclipses 100 yards rushing. Tonight, Stevan Ridley gained 113 yards on 27 carries. The only loss with a 100-yard rusher during the Bill Belichick era came at Miami on Dec. 20, 2004, when Corey Dillon rushed for 121 yards on 26 carries and the Patriots lost to the Dolphins, 29-28. Since then, New England is 26-0 with a 100-yard rusher.
31ST TIME IN TEAM HISTORY WITH A 100-YARD RUSHER AND RECEIVER
The Patriots had a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver tonight against the Bengals, as Stevan Ridley had 113 rushing yards on 27 carries, while Rob Gronkowski hauled in 100 receiving yards on 6 receptions. Tonight was the first time the Patriots achieved that feat since Shane Vereen (101 rush) and Danny Amendola (104 rec) did it at Buffalo on Sept. 8, 2013. It is the 31st time in team history that the Patriots have accomplished that feat.
PATRIOTS GAIN 200 YARDS RUSHING
The Patriots had 220 rushing yards as a team against Cincinnati. Stevan Ridley led the way with 113 rushing yards, while Shane Vereen added 90 rushing yards. It was the first time this season the Patriots broke the 200-yard rushing mark. In 2013, the Patriots achieved the feat once, totaling 267 rushing yards in the regular-season finale against Buffalo (12/29/13). The Patriots improved to 64-7 all-time when rushing for 200 or more yards in a game.
PATRIOTS SCORE 43 POINTS
The Patriots finished the game with 43 points, marking a season-high output and totaling the most points in a game for a New England team since scoring 55 points in a 55-31 win over Pittsburgh on November 3, 2013. Cincinnati entered tonight's game ranked first in the NFL in allowing just 11 points per game. The Bengals had allowed only 33 total points in three games so far in the 2014 season heading into tonight's game.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
BRADY BECOMES SIXTH NFL PLAYER TO REACH 50,000 PASSING YARDS
Tom Brady (50,232) became the sixth NFL player to reach 50,000 passing yards. He entered the Cincinnati game needing 60 yards to reach 50,000 and reached the milestone on a 27-yard pass to TE Rob Gronkowski in the first quarter.
**
BRADY REACHED 50,000 YARDS THE FOURTH-FASTEST**
Brady reached 50,000 passing yards in his 198th career game, the fourth-fastest among the six players with at least 50,000 passing yards.
TOM BRADY WINS 40TH STRAIGHT HOME GAME AGAINST AFC
Tom Brady won his 40th straight regular season home game as a starting quarterback against an AFC opponent. Brady is now 66-8 in his career as a starting quarterback against AFC teams. The last time that Brady lost a home regular season game to an AFC opponent was on Nov. 12, 2006 when the Patriots lost to the New York Jets, 17-14.
GRONKOWSKI EXTENDS HIS STREAK TO 55 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
Rob Gronkowski caught an 27-yard pass in the first quarter and has caught at least one pass in all 55 regular season games that he has played.
LONGEST CURRENT STREAKS OF CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION BY TIGHT ENDS
93 Owen Daniels (Houston/Baltimore)
92 Jason Witten (Dallas)
86 Heath Miller (Pittsburgh)
55 Rob Gronkowski
GRONKOWSKI AND BRADY CONNECT FOR 45TH TOUCHDOWN; TIE A PATRIOTS RECORD FOR CONNECTIONS BETWEEN A QB AND A TE
Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady connected on their 45th touchdown pass and tied a Patriots record for most touchdown connections between a quarterback and a tight end on a 16-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Drew Bledsoe and Ben Coates connected on 45 touchdown passes. The 45 touchdown connections are tied for second in NFL history, behind the 65 touchdown connections between Phillip Rivers and Antonie Gates.
**
GRONKOWSKI EXTENDS RECORD WITH 13TH 100-YARD GAME**
TE Rob Gronkowski finished with100 yards on six receptions for his 13th career game with 100 or more receiving yards. It was the first time since December 21, 2013 that Gronkowski had 100 or more receiving yards. Gronkowski's 13 100-yard games extended his team record for most 100-yard receiving games by a tight end.
STEVAN RIDLEY HAS LONGEST RUN OF HIS CAREER
RB Stevan Ridley had a 43-yard run in the third quarter, which was the longest rush of his career. His previous best was a 41-yard run against St. Louis in London on Oct. 28, 2012.
RIDLEY HAS HIS 7TH CAREER 100-YARD DAY AND SECOND OF 2014
Stevan Ridley totaled 113 yards on 27 carries, marking his second 100-yard rushing game of the 2014 season. Ridley had 101 rushing yards at Minnesota on Sept. 14, 2014. Ridley now has seven career 100-yard rushing games, and last season he had one 100-yard rushing performance.
CHRIS JONES 8-YARD SACK IN 4TH QUARTER FIRST GIVEN UP BY BENGALS
Chris Jones sacked Bengals QB Andy Dalton for an 8-yard loss on third down in the fourth quarter. The sack raised Jones's season total to 1.5 sacks and was the first sack that Cincinnati had allowed in 2014.
DB KYLE ARRINGTON SCORES ON A FUMBLE RETURN; THIRD TD OF CAREER
DB Kyle Arrington returned a Cincinnati fumble forced by Brandon Bolden on a third quarter kickoff 9 yards for a touchdown. It marked his third career touchdown. He returned a blocked field goal 35 yards for a touchdown at Miami (10/4/10) and returned his first career interception 36 yards for a touchdown vs. Green Bay (12/19/10). The last time the Patriots had a special teams fumble returned for a touchdown was a 22-yard fumble return by Julian Edelman at the New York Jets on Nov. 22, 2012 on Thanksgiving night. It is the 51st fumble returned for a touchdown in team history and the 16th since Bill Belichick became coach.
**
DB KYLE ARRINGTON FORCES TURNOVER**
DB Kyle Arrington forced Cincinnati's Dane Sanzenbacher to fumble following a fourth-quarter reception, and DB Duron Harmon recovered the loose ball to give the Patriots possession and set up a field goal drive that made the score 43-17.
DARRELLE REVIS PLAYS IN HIS 100TH NFL GAME; FORCES FUMBLE
CB Darrelle Revis played in his 100th NFL game and forced an A.J. Green fumble with just over a minute left in the first half. Jamie Collins recovered the loose ball at the Cincinnati 28-yard line. The play ended with the Patriots getting the ball at the Bengals' 25-yard line after a Collins fumble was recovered by Alfonzo Dennard. The turnover set up a New England field goal drive that extended the Patriots' lead to 20-3 going into halftime. Revis's forced fumble came on a 19-yard catch by Green that was Green's only reception of the first half. Revis also has an interception in 2014, and has now forced two turnovers in five games in 2014.
TE TIM WRIGHT HAD HIS FIRST TD AS A PATRIOT
TE Tim Wright caught his first touchdown as a Patriot on a 17-yarder from Tom Brady in the first quarter. As a rookie in 2013 with Tampa Bay, Wight had five touchdown receptions. Wright finished the game with a season high 85 yards on five receptions.
GOSTKOWSKI HAS 30 STRAIGHT FOURTH QUARTER FIELD GOALS
Stephen Gostkowski made three field goals in the fourth quarter and has now made 30 consecutive fourth-quarter field goals.
GOSTKOWSKI HAS CAREER-HIGH 5 FIELD GOALS, TYING SECOND HIGHEST TOTAL IN TEAM HISTORY
Stephen Gostkowski made five field goals, setting a new career high for most field goals in a game. His previous career high was four field goals, achieved on September 16, 2012 against Arizona. Gostkowski's five field goals tie the second highest single-game total in Patriots history, trailing only Gino Cappelletti's six successful field goals on October 4, 1964. Prior to tonight, the last time a Patriots player had five field goals in a game was on November 14, 2004, when Adam Vinatieri had five field goals vs. Buffalo.
GOSTKOWSKI STARTS THE SEASON PERFECT
Stephen Gostkowski was 5-for-5 on field goals tonight, improving to 13-for-13 on the 2014 season. Gostkowski has now made 20 straight regular-season field goals dating back to December 15, 2013.
QUICK HITS
- The Patriots offense started the game with two big pass plays, as Tom Brady hit Brandon LaFell for a 20-yard gain on the game's first play from scrimmage and then two plays later, Brady found Tim Wright for a 30-yard gain. The 50 passing yards were key plays on the Patriots' game-opening touchdown drive.
- Tom Brady picked up a first down on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-one at the Bengals' 5-yard line, extending New England's game-opening touchdown drive.
- First-year defensive tackle Casey Walker, who made his NFL debut tonight, wrapped up Jeremy Hill for a 4-yard loss on a rush in the second quarter.
- Shane Vereen picked up 19 yards on a rush on third-and-16 in the third quarter, getting a key first down to extend a Patriots touchdown drive that made the score 27-10, answering a Cincinnati score that had cut the Patriots lead to 20-10.
STARTING BLOCKS
RYAN WENDELL STARTS AT RIGHT GUARD; FIRST START OF 2014
Ryan Wendell started at right guard, marking his first start at right guard since he started the final two games at right guard in 2010. He started one game at left guard in 2011. Wendell played at right guard last week at Kansas City in the fourth quarter.
FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK DOMINIQUE EASLEY MAKES HIS FIRST START
First-round draft pick Dominique Easley made his first NFL start
ROOKIE LB DEONTAE SKINNER MAKES FIRST CAREER START
Rookie free agent LB Deontae Skinner made his first NFL start.
FIRST-YEAR DL CASEY WALKER SEES FIRST NFL ACTION
First-year DL Casey Walker played in his first NFL game.
