The Cincinnati Bengals face a pivotal home game against the team with the best record in the AFC this Sunday. To get the lay of the land on all things New England Patriots, we tapped the knowledge of Taylor Kyles over at Pats Pulpit within the SB Nation network.
Here are five questions with Taylor Kyles to preview this Sunday’s game:
1.) AC: Can you talk about the growth of Drake Maye in Year Two? He’s making all of the throws it seems–is there a weakness to exploit?
TK: Drake Maye’s pocket presence and footwork have significantly improved under OC Josh McDaniels, and he’s done a better job keeping his eyes downfield when extending plays. These have allowed his play-making instincts, arm talent, and athleticism to shine. All that said, Maye’s hunting for big plays has led to some rough turnovers. Disciplined fronts that don’t let him run wild also tend to rack up sacks, so sound rush lanes are key to limiting his explosiveness.
2.) AC: What has been the effect of Mike Vrabel’s return to the Patriots? He obviously knows the culture, but do you think he was the only available head coaching candidate that could have turned the Patriots around this quickly, or were the pieces already there and just needed a steady head coach presence, in general?
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TK: Mike Vrabel’s experience and credibility have been major factors in the Patriots’ quick turnaround, especially in player acquisition and buy-in. He’s made mistakes at other stops, and you can tell he’s brought the lessons he learned — plus several assistants — with him to New England. This was a team lacking in starting-caliber talent and credible coaching at key spots, and Vrabel’s regime did an excellent job filling those voids.
Ben Johnson’s early tenure in Chicago makes it hard for me to say he wouldn’t have been successful in New England, but it never felt like Robert Kraft was truly willing to go in an unfamiliar direction.
3.) AC: What do you think the Patriots’ game plan will be is this week, given the massive amount of injuries/suspensions to Bengals’ stars and Cincinnati’s fluidity at quarterback?
TK: The Patriots always want to play balanced to maximize their play-action potential, but I also think they’ll want to lean on the run game against a vulnerable front. If McDaniels thinks he can pound the rock, he will, and TreVeyon Henderson has produced like one of the league’s best rushers in recent weeks. The backfield could also be getting a boost with Rhamondre Stevenson set to come back from a toe injury. New England will be respectful of the Bengals’ ball-hawking secondary, but I’d expect them to pick on Cincy’s linebackers in coverage as much as possible.
4.) AC: Give us one player on offense and defense, that aren’t household names with whom Bengals fans should/will become familiar with after this Sunday?
Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has been an elite deep threat this season, and he’s set to return from a hamstring injury. The Patriots haven’t been able to replace him the past few weeks, and I’d be surprised if Maye doesn’t try getting one of his favorite targets in a groove.
Defensive tackle Cory Durden is primed for a bigger role with Milton Williams currently on injured reserve, and he’s had some dominant flashes this season. Despite being a primary run defender, where he does a great job holding his ground and getting off blocks, PFF has him ranked among the position’s best pass rushers. He isn’t an elite athlete and could see some regression to the mean with more snaps, but his power can be overwhelming at times, and I expect the veteran to make an impact on Sunday.
5.) AC: FanDuel has the Patriots as a touchdown favorite on the road this week. Do you think that’s fair, and what do the Bengals need to do to get an unlikely win against this solid New England Squad?
TK: I think the Patriots will win by more, to be honest, but it’s a decent spread for an NFL game. For the Bengals to pull off an upset, they must keep a lid on the pass defense while keeping Maye and Henderson hemmed in. The Patriots’ linebackers and safeties can also be exploited in coverage, so exploiting mismatches over the middle is the best bet to expose their defense.
Our thanks to Taylor Kyles of Pats Pulpit. Be sure to catch the other side of the conversation over on their website, too!
