The Cincinnati Bengals came into Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots with the worst defense in football. However, it was made clear right from the jump that they weren’t playing like it.
They survived two goal-line stands and got a pick-six on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in an effort to end the Cinderella run before the clock struck midnight.
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And they were nearly successful.
In the end, the Patriots made enough plays on defense to spoil a potential game-winning drive by Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco for a 26-20 victory.
The brutal cost of the harder-than-expected game at Paycor Stadium was injuries to key starters, including Will Campbell, Jared Wilson, Brenden Schooler and Khyiris Tonga. Campbell’s injury was especially concerning given his pain-stricken reaction on the field, before he was ultimately carted off to the locker room. The Patriots were down to Vederian Lowe at left tackle and Ben Brown at left guard when the game ended.
It served as a reminder of how quickly things can change in the NFL.
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Maye looked shaky in the game early on, missing a few routine throws that he could probably make in his sleep. However, he bounced back quickly and finished the game going 22-of-35 passing for a career-high 294 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
For those wondering who the starter would be at running back, the Patriots stuck with rookie TreVeyon Henderson, while also working veteran Rhamondre Stevenson and Terrell Jennings into the mix. Tight end Hunter Henry led the way with a monster performance with seven catches for 115 yards and one touchdown.
And what about rookie kicker Andy Borregales, who went a perfect 4-of-4 for the day, including a 52-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter?
The run of injuries already appears to be impacting the defense. Despite having the best run defense in the league, this is the third straight week that the Patriots allowed an opponent to rush for over 100 yards on them. Milton Williams is already out with an ankle injury. If the team loses Tonga for any significant period of time, it could prove to be a major issue for the team up front.
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A win is a win in the NFL, and no game is easy. The Patriots can walk away proud for ultimately coming out on top, but they will definitely be licking their wounds after this one.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Instant analysis of Patriots’ ugly 26-20 road victory over Bengals