Closing spread
NE -7.5
Total
48.5
Model margin
+4.1est.
NE perspective
Push chance
None
half-point line — cannot push
Availability
The injury report
The official league filing for this week — game designations first, then who missed or was limited in practice.
Bengals
- OutTyler EifertTEBack· DNP
- DNPKarlos DansbyLBNot Injury Related
- LimitedAndrew WhitworthTNot Injury Related
Patriots
- OutGreg ScruggsTEKnee· DNP
- OutJonathan FreenyLBShoulder· DNP
- QuestionableBrandon BoldenRBKnee· Limited
- QuestionableJamie CollinsLBHip· Limited
- QuestionableJimmy GaroppoloQBright Shoulder· Limited
- QuestionableJoe ThuneyGShoulder· Limited
- QuestionableJulian EdelmanWRFoot· Limited
- QuestionableLeGarrette BlountRBHip· Limited
- QuestionableMalcolm MitchellWRHamstring· Limited
- QuestionableMarcus CannonTCalf· Limited
- QuestionableMartellus BennettTEAnkle· Limited
- QuestionableRob GronkowskiTEHamstring· DNP
- QuestionableShea McClellinLBConcussion· Limited
- QuestionableVincent ValentineDTBack· Limited
- DNPShaquille MasonGNot Injury Related
- LimitedDont'a HightowerLBKnee
Win probability
- Patriots
- Bengals
How each play moved the game.
Matchup
Where the edges are
Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.
- +0.052EPA / play+0.128
- 45.3%Success rate44.3%
- +0.116EPA / dropback+0.276
- -0.050EPA / rush-0.077
- 7.8%Explosive rate8.6%
- +2.98CPOE+2.98
- 38.9%Third-down rate47.3%
- 58.5%Red-zone TD rate64.5%
- 1.86Points / drive2.47
- 1.4%Turnover rate0.7%
Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.
The rivalry
NE lead 10–3 since 1999
NE have won 2 straight. Meetings average 44.8 points. NE are 7-6 ATS in the series.
Possession by possession
How it unfolded
Every drive: who had the ball, how far it went, how it ended, and the score as it settled.
| Ball | Start | Plays | Yards | Result | CIN–NE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE | Q1 15:00 | 7 | 47 | Field goal | 0–3 |
| CIN | Q1 12:06 | 7 | 34 | Punt | 0–3 |
| NE | Q1 7:34 | 10 | 43 | Punt | 0–3 |
| CIN | Q1 2:57 | 18 | 99 | Turnover on downs | 0–3 |
| NE | Q2 9:05 | 4 | 15 | Punt | 0–3 |
| CIN | Q2 6:36 | 7 | 60 | Touchdown | 7–3 |
| NE | Q2 3:10 | 9 | 70 | Touchdown | 7–10 |
| CIN | Q2 1:01 | 3 | 0 | Punt | 7–10 |
| CIN | Q3 15:00 | 9 | 80 | Touchdown | 14–10 |
| NE | Q3 11:14 | 4 | 22 | Punt | 14–10 |
| CIN | Q3 8:11 | 3 | -8 | Safety | 14–12 |
| NE | Q3 7:05 | 5 | 68 | Touchdown | 14–19 |
| CIN | Q3 5:00 | 3 | 0 | Punt | 14–19 |
| NE | Q3 4:33 | 4 | 53 | Touchdown | 14–25 |
| CIN | Q3 2:58 | 11 | 68 | Field goal | 17–25 |
| NE | Q4 12:34 | 12 | 77 | Field goal | 17–28 |
| CIN | Q4 6:04 | 5 | 8 | Punt | 17–28 |
| NE | Q4 3:32 | 9 | 42 | Touchdown | 17–35 |
| CIN | Q4 0:57 | 2 | 16 | End of half | 17–35 |
Box score
Individual performances
Bengals
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Dalton | 21/31 | 254 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giovani Bernard | 15 | 49 | 3.3 | 0 |
| Jeremy Hill | 13 | 38 | 2.9 | 0 |
| Andy Dalton | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 1 |
| Rex Burkhead | 2 | 16 | 8.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Rec | Tgt | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.J. Green | 6 | 10 | 88 | 0 |
| Tyler Boyd | 4 | 5 | 79 | 0 |
| Giovani Bernard | 4 | 5 | 45 | 0 |
| Tyler Kroft | 2 | 2 | 19 | 0 |
| Brandon LaFell | 2 | 5 | 13 | 1 |
| C.J. Uzomah | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Jeremy Hill | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| James Wright | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Patriots
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Brady | 29/35 | 376 | 3 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeGarrette Blount | 13 | 50 | 3.8 | 1 |
| James White | 7 | 19 | 2.7 | 0 |
| Julian Edelman | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 |
| Tom Brady | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Rec | Tgt | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Gronkowski | 7 | 9 | 162 | 1 |
| Martellus Bennett | 5 | 5 | 48 | 0 |
| James White | 8 | 9 | 47 | 2 |
| Chris Hogan | 1 | 1 | 39 | 0 |
| Danny Amendola | 2 | 2 | 30 | 0 |
| Julian Edelman | 4 | 7 | 30 | 0 |
| LeGarrette Blount | 2 | 2 | 20 | 0 |
Where this game is likely to land
- Model
- Smooth (normal)
- Betting line
Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.
Positive margins favour Patriots; negative favour Bengals.
Half-point at risk
2.16%
outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5
Model home win
60.1%
Expected total
43.9est.
Model
Where the number comes from
Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.
- Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)+2.39
- Home-field advantage+1.74
- Quarterback adjustment0.00
- Rest differential0.00
- Expected margin+4.13



