BLUE 1,026 Posted October 3, 2014 By JEFF BARTL STATS Senior Writer (AP) -- The regression of Tom Brady is well-documented, leading many to question if the New England Patriots quarterback finally has reached the twilight of his career. Bill Belichick isn't providing any answers, choosing instead to move on from Brady's latest lackluster performance and focus on Sunday night's showdown with the unbeaten Cincinnati Bengals in Foxborough. Brady has led the Patriots (2-2) to three championships under Belichick, though none have come since the 2004 season. Now in his 15th year, Brady appears to be a shell of the future Hall of Famer who led New England to five Super Bowls. His 79.1 passer rating ranks 29th in the league and he's completing a career-worst 59.1 percent of his passes. He went 14 of 23 for 159 yards with two interceptions - one returned for a touchdown - and lost a fumble in Monday's embarrassing 41-14 loss at Kansas City. Brady was pulled in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach, and rookie second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo led a late scoring drive. "Like (Belichick) always says, ignore the noise and just stay focused on what we need to do, stay focused on what our process is to try to make the improvement," Brady said. "We've got an important job to do this week and the clock is ticking." Belichick was asked to reflect on the latest performance, especially Brady's. How difficult is it to move past the adversity of Monday night's game and get back on track? Is Brady's age - 37 - becoming a factor? Has he done enough to help Brady? Belichick had the same evasive response to each question at his weekly press conference: "We're on to Cincinnati." His reluctance to elaborate could be a sign of frustration, but those questions likely will continue pouring in if Brady and the Patriots - 29th in total offense at 298.5 yards per game - can't turn things around. It won't get any easier against the Bengals (3-0), who allow a league-low 11.0 points per game and come to town rested after their bye week. Cincinnati possesses a well-balanced offensive attack with quarterback Andy Dalton and a running game led by Giovani Bernard, who ran for two touchdowns in a 33-7 win over Tennessee two weeks ago. "They have a lot of good players. They're well-coached. They're tough, they're physical, they're explosive," Belichick said. "It's been a while since I've seen a team that's as complete as they are." Dalton's 33 victories since he entered the league in 2011 are second to Brady's 39. Dalton went 20 of 27 for 212 yards as the Bengals beat the Patriots 13-6 at home last season, but he's trying to deflect this contest being about a Dalton vs. Brady matchup. "At the end of the day, you're not going against the quarterback, but everybody is going to compare you to the other quarterback," Dalton said. "Anytime you can win against guys like that, it's big. It shows what this team is capable of doing. I've got a lot of confidence. You go into those games expecting to win." Cincinnati is the lone remaining unbeaten in the AFC after going 11-5 last year but losing to San Diego in the wild-card round, remaining without a playoff win since 1990. Victories over Baltimore and Atlanta to open the season have the Bengals feeling they can compete with the league's heavyweights, and a win at New England would only further that notion. The Patriots have won 10 consecutive home games, including the playoffs. "Over the last couple of years we've been winning the games like that, the ones we're supposed to win," left tackle Andre Whitworth said of the win over Tennessee. "It's more the big games we haven't shown up as well. We started our year (against the Ravens) and we did show. That was taking another step and we have to be ready to take another step in New England." Many of the Bengals aren't putting much stock in last year's win over the Patriots heading into this week. "We're a totally different team and I'm sure they're a totally different team," said defensive end Wallace Gilberry, who had 1 1/2 sacks in last season's contest. "That mindset (about the past) is gone." For all of Cincinnati's success to start the season, Dalton has yet to throw a red-zone touchdown pass. The return of receiver Martin Jones could give Dalton another viable target inside the 20. Jones, who has yet to play because of a foot injury, caught 10 TD passes last season. "You get in the mode," Jones told the team's official website. "Once you get close to the red zone, those are the opportunities you need to get. You can tell when we hit that point everyone wants to make a play." The Patriots have allowed five red-zone touchdown passes, tied for third-most in the NFL. Source: Hosted.Stats.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BC 331 Posted October 5, 2014 This will be the Patriots debut of Brandon Browner. Can't say I miss him and all his penalties. Will be interesting to see if he can stay on the field. His physical style of play gets him banged up quite often. But really, I think the Pats are done. They just cut Thompkins and are having all kinds of issues with Dobson. The Bengals D-line is not one that will allow Brady much time. Vareen can't really be Vareen when they need the extra help in pass-protection. The Pats D is not that terrible on paper, but with how quick they have to keep getting back on the field doesn't bode well for older guys like Revis, Wilfork etc. I think the losing streak continues and the Pats look at a higher draft position than they're used to. 27 :Patriots: 13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradyFan81 404 Posted October 5, 2014 (edited) Browner didn't get activated. Hope to see Revis 1 on 1 with AJ Green and not playing 10 yards off the LOS like he has been so far. Edited October 5, 2014 by BradyFan81 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted October 5, 2014 21 :patriots: 24 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piggly Wiggly 960 Posted October 5, 2014 CINCY AIN'T READY... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted October 5, 2014 Patriots LB Dont'a Hightower (knee) is inactive for Sunday night's Week 5 game against the Bengals. Hightower is dealing with a knee injury and will be held out this week. Jamie Collins (thigh) is active. The Patriots inactives are OL Cameron Fleming, RB James White, OL Josh Kline, CB Malcolm Butler, and DL Zach Moore. Marvin Jones (ankle) is inactive for Sunday night's Week 5 game against the Patriots. Jones was on track to make his debut this week, but suffered a setback with his ankle on Wednesday. Mohamed Sanu will start opposite A.J. Green in two-wide sets. The rest of the Bengals inactives are LB Vontaze Burfict, RB Rex Burkhead, DL Brandon Thompson, OL Kevin Zietler, DB Chris Lewis-Harris, and DL Will Clarke. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted October 5, 2014 Some really bad inactives tonight. No Jones. No Burfict. No Zeitler. Damn. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted October 6, 2014 We're looking like ourselves again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted October 6, 2014 And reality was restored. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradyFan81 404 Posted October 6, 2014 Hope to see Revis 1 on 1 with AJ Green and not playing 10 yards off the LOS like he has been so far. If Revis goes back to playing that zone/10 yards off the line of scrimmage garbage next week, I kill a Stark. LET REVIS BE REVIS Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piggly Wiggly 960 Posted October 6, 2014 CINCY AIN'T READY... Literally the easiest bet I've made this season... and had +207 odds. And can tards like BC now shut the fuck up about the supposed ''impeding doomsday'' in New England? What a fucking overreaction after the KC game lmao. They got equally embarrassed the same way on MNF in 2009 against the Saints. Ya'll forget about that? But I digress... WHO DEY? DEY WEREN'T READY!!!!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted October 6, 2014 (edited) Cincy being Cincy in primetime. Shit the bed with turnovers and bad play-calling. Fucking primetime Edited October 6, 2014 by Chernobyl426 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites