Patriots Improve to 10–2 After Win Over Bengals — Playoff Push Begins

The New England Patriots took care of business on Sunday, beating the Cincinnati Bengals and strengthening their position as one of the top teams in the AFC. With a 10–2 record, the Patriots now control their own path toward a top playoff seed.

Even without Joe Burrow (ruled inactive), the Bengals fought hard behind veteran QB Joe Flacco, but the Patriots defense stepped up once again and made the key stops when it mattered. The offense continues to look balanced, efficient, and playoff-ready.

Two Big Injuries on the Offensive Line

The only downside from the win: New England lost two standout rookie linemen, the team’s starting LT and LG. Early reports estimate 4–6 weeks recovery time. It’s a tough blow this late in the season, but the Patriots have been resilient all year, and the hope is to have both players back in time for the postseason run. Also, Drake was off a bit, Mark Daniels from Masslive thinks it’s physical.

Miami Memories — Patriots vs Dolphins Earlier This Season

Earlier this year I was at the Patriots–Dolphins game in Miami, and the atmosphere was incredible — full stadium, perfect weather, and Patriots fans everywhere. Here are a few pictures I took at the game:

Looking Ahead

With a 10–2 record and one of the strongest defenses in the league, the Patriots are positioned perfectly as we head toward December football. The next few weeks will be about staying healthy, tightening up the offense, and locking in home-field advantage.

New England is built for playoff football — physical defense, strong coaching, and a quarterback who keeps delivering in the clutch. I do worry about our kicker. Andy is from Miami. He’s never kicked in freezing temps or snow.

The postseason can’t come soon enough.