AP Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hit only 18 of 38 pass attempts in a 13-6 loss to the Bengals Sunday.
Turns out, the defense was just fine. It was
the Patriots’ offense that couldn’t provide any punch in a 13-6 loss as
Tom Brady’s incredible touchdown streak ended at 52 consecutive games.
Sunday’s loss was the first time the Patriots
failed to score a touchdown since Week 2 in 2009. They gained just 279
total yards as Cincinnati’s defensive line overwhelmed the Patriots up
front.
The Patriots rushed for just 70 yards on a 4.1
average, and Brady was sacked four times after not going down once in
last week’s win over Atlanta. The Patriots’ last-minute drive ended with
Brady throwing a wobbly interception to Adam Jones inside the 10-yard
line.
The Patriots, playing with Danny Amendola
(four catches, 55 yards) but without Rob Gronkowski, Stevan Ridley or
Shane Vereen, certainly had their chances. They got inside the 1-yard
line in the fourth quarter, but were unable to punch the ball into the
end zone and were forced to settle for a short field goal.
A forced fumble by Devin McCourty late in the
fourth gave the Patriots the ball at Cincinnati’s 43, but the offense
went nowhere with two straight incompletions and another sack.
Brady looked uncomfortable all game, and
completed just 18-of-38 passes for 197 yards and only one completion
over 21 yards, a 55-yarder to Aaron Dobson.
The Patriots’ defense did an admirable job
without Wilfork, with rookies Joe Vellano and Chris Jones (1.5 sacks)
playing significant snaps and holding their own. Brandon Spikes
intercepted Andy Dalton inside the 10-yard line in the first half and
the Patriots sacked Dalton four times overall. But Dalton settled down
and completed 20-of-27 passes for 212 yards, and led the Bengals 94
yards for the game’s only touchdown.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (67 yards) punctuated
the drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge on fourth-and goal, and rookie
Giovani Bernard added 62 yards on 13 carries.
Star receiver A.J. Green did have five catches for 61 yards, but was held in check most of the day by Aqib Talib.
