What To Watch For: Can Yet Another Offensive Line Combination Actually Protect Brady?
BOSTON (CBS) -- Whenever you have five games against AFC East opponents remaining on your schedule, you really can't refer to any early-season contest as a "must-win." But for the Patriots, who are getting ready to host the 3-0 Bengals on Sunday night in Foxboro, this might be as close as it can get.
To be sure, the Patriots' season won't be ruined if they lose to Cincinnati and fall to 2-3 on the year, but given how much things appear to be in disarray for Bill Belichick's team, a second consecutive loss would surely not sit well inside the walls of Gillette Stadium.
Unfortunately for New England, the Bengals are good -- really good -- and will present the toughest test of the year thus far.
Here's what to watch for when the Pats and Bengals kick off on Sunday evening.
Opening 10
Tom Brady didn't say much at his weekly press conference this week, but he did mention one major problem the Patriots have faced this year.
"We got off to a slow start, got behind," Brady said of the loss to Kansas City. "Those are things that we've got to try to correct. We've got to try to certainly do a better job playing from ahead and try to get ahead and stay ahead."
The effort to get ahead and stay ahead begins, obviously, early in the first quarter. That's been a trouble spot for the Patriots lately. Two weeks ago vs. Oakland, Brady finished the first quarter with zero passing yards, and the Patriots had just 13 yards overall. Last week in KC, the Chiefs controlled the ball for 11:42 in the first quarter while opening up a 7-0 lead. The Patriots ran just seven plays and gained 20 yards in the first quarter, and just a few minutes into the second quarter, the Chiefs doubled their lead to 14-0 and never looked back. And even in the win over the Vikings, the Patriots first fell behind 7-0. Likewise in the loss in Miami, the Dolphins got out to a 7-0 lead early. Playing from behind simply makes life difficult for a football team.
This week, if the Patriots hope to turn the tide, it'll begin in the first few drives. If the Bengals waltz right down the field and put points on the board early, it could be another long night for Brady's offense.
A Lopsided Affair?
Nobody expects the Patriots to get blown out in their own building ... but should we? Consider some stats.
Offense
Total Offense
Cincinnati: 7th, 384 yards/game
New England: 29th, 298.5 yards/gamePass Yards Per Attempt
Cincinnati: 1st, 8.9 yards
New England: 30th, 6.0 yardsPoints Per Game
Cincinnati: 6th, 26.7 points
New England: 24th, 20 pointsSacks Allowed
Cincinnati: 1st, 0 sacks
New England: T-24th, 10 sacksDefense
Total Defense
Cincinnati: 14th, 352.7 yards/game
New England: 4th, 315.3 yards/gamePoints Allowed Per Game
Cincinnati: 1st, 11.0 points
New England: 14th, 22.5 pointsSacks
Cincinnati: 7 (2.33 sacks/game)
New England: 9 (2.25 sacks/game)Interceptions
Cincinnati: 6 (2 INTs/game)
New England: 6 (1.5 INTs/game)
As you can see, the Bengals got off to quite the impressive start while beating the Ravens, Falcons and Titans. Will the Patriots present a tougher test? They better if they hope to avoid another blowout loss on national TV.
A Newer New Offensive Line
Last week, the Patriots trotted out a new offensive line, with rookie Bryan Stork at center and rookie tackle Cameron Fleming playing guard for the first time in his life. The group played better than the O line had played in previous weeks, but frankly, the standard had been set pretty low.
This week, we may see yet another combination on the line, provided Ryan Wendell is healthy enough to assume the right guard position. It may set the offensive line as what it will likely be for the rest of the year: Nate Solder, Dan Connolly, Bryan Stork, Ryan Wendell, Sebastian Vollmer going left to right. And if that's the case, it could mean that Tom Brady might actually have some time in the pocket, and perhaps the running game can get going.
It'll be important, particularly the point about protecting Brady. You'll recall that keeping the QB clean was an issue last year when New England visited Cincy. That day, Brady was sacked four times, and he completed just 18 passes for 197 yards while throwing no touchdowns and one interception. It was the first time in 52 games that Brady failed to throw a touchdown pass, and it was the QB's lowest passing yardage total in a game since December 2010.
Can the offensive line finally put together a consistent, cohesive performance? The answer to that question will be perhaps the single biggest determinant of the final outcome.
Revis, Uncaged
So far, the Patriots have been seemingly content to have Darrelle Revis play 10 yards off his receiver, allowing for a number of intermediate routes and crossing patterns to be completed on the All-Pro cornerback. If the Patriots threw truckloads of cash at Revis just to play corner the same way Darius Butler, Earthwind Moreland and Terrence Wheatley have been asked to play corner, then that's a rather curious decision.
Hopefully for the entertainment of all (and the betterment of the team, I suppose) Revis will be let out of his cage this Sunday night against A.J. Green. The receiver is the Bengals' most dangerous threat, with 12 receptions for 233 yards and a touchdown through three games this year. He's coming off back-to-back years with 1,350 yards or more and 11 touchdowns per season.
Revis said this week that in the past, he's requested to go 1-on-1 with some receivers, and if it came to that, he wouldn't hesitate to ask Bill Belichick.
It might be the best move for the Patriots. It's exactly the type of high-profile matchup that most folks envisioned playing out when the Patriots signed Revis, so maybe we'll get to grab some popcorn and watch these two actually go at it under the bright lights on Sunday night.
Read more from Michael Hurley by clicking here, or find him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.
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