"In the days leading up to the New England Patriots' Week 12 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals, most analysts believed it would be an absolute domination by the away team, stealing a win against the frequent AFC North winners. A lot of that was due to their eight-game win streak, which only looked more possible with QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja'Marr Chase sidelined for the matchup."
"But the game was far from a blowout, and actually came down to a fourth-down pass breakup that gave the Patriots the chance to kneel it out for the win. Although it extends their win streak and gives them 10 wins for the first time since 2021, Mike Vrabel isn't satisfied with how the day went. And to be fair, fans shouldn't be either."
Analysts expected the Bengals to dominate heading into Week 12 because of their eight-game win streak and the Patriots facing them without Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. The game was tightly contested and decided by a fourth-down pass breakup that allowed the Patriots to kneel and secure the victory. The win extended the Patriots' streak and gave them 10 wins for the first time since 2021. Head coach Mike Vrabel expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance despite the result. Players and coaches have stressed a mentality of not being satisfied with mere wins, reflecting an old-school approach fans have wanted since Bill Belichick's firing nearly two years ago.
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