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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
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. –** Tom Brady and the rest of the New England Patriots picked a prime time to put on a show Sunday Night, exploding for 505 yards of total offense and 43 points in a decisive 43-17 victory over the previously undefeated Cincinnati Bengals on NBC's "Sunday Night Football," in what was the most watched program of the week in the regional market.
An average of 1,231,700 total viewers in the Boston market tuned in to see Brady become just the sixth player in NFL history to eclipse 50,000 passing yards as the Patriots captured their 32nd straight home win against an AFC opponent. Nationally, the win garnered a 12.8 household rating and 20 market share, up 10 percent from last year's "Sunday Night Football" Week 5 contest between Houston and San Francisco, which drew a 11.6 rating and 19 share. Additionally, the ratings were an all-time high for a Bengals game on "Sunday Night Football."
Viewership was highest in the local Boston market, where the game attracted a 35.6 household rating and 55 market share, making it the most watched program of the week by a landslide. The second-most watched program of the week was Sunday night's pregame show, which drew a 20.0 rating and 31 market share. Overall, the Patriots accounted for the four most watched shows of the week in the Boston market, as Monday night's game at Kansas City and Sunday night's postgame show were third and fourth, respectively. Rounding out the top five was the highest rated non-Patriots show of the week, CBS's "NCIS," which attracted a 14.2 rating and 22 market share.
The Patriots will look to capture their first divisional win of the season next Sunday when they travel to Buffalo to take on the AFC East rival Bills at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast regionally on FOX and locally in the Boston market on WFXT-Channel 25, with Kenny Albert on play-by-play, Daryl Johnston providing color analysis and Tony Siragusa reporting from the sidelines.
