The New England Patriots will attempt to prolong their win streak to 9 video games Sunday after they clash with the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in Week 12.
The Bengals have struggled all season with a 3-7 document, however their finest participant — celebrity quarterback Joe Burrow — could make his return to the field after struggling a turf toe damage in Week 2 that required surgical procedure.
Burrow practiced all week, however he’s officially listed as questionable on Cincinnati’s official damage report. He was a full participant in Wednesday and Thursday’s practices, after which was restricted Friday.
UPDATE (Saturday, Nov. 22): The Bengals have determined to maintain Burrow on injured reserve this weekend, which means has been dominated out of Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Patriots, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reports.
How has the Bengals’ uncertainty at quarterback impacted the Patriots’ preparation this week?
“It actually hasn’t,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel informed reporters in a press convention Friday. “The stuff they’ve at all times finished and can do is gonna stay the identical. Joe (Burrow) is extra cell than Joe (Flacco) is.
“Each are going to run the identical ideas and identical performs and look to get the ball in the identical locations. I might think about with Joe being a bit of youthful, he’ll be a bit extra cell, however we’ll must be prepared for no matter occurs Sunday.”
Burrow’s return can be a pleasant increase for a determined Bengals squad whose playoff hopes are fairly slim. That stated, veteran backup Joe Flacco has really carried out fairly nicely because the starter in Burrow’s absence.
Flacco has thrown 12 touchdowns with simply three interceptions in 5 begins since becoming a member of the Bengals forward of Week 6 in October. He threw for 470 yards with 4 touchdowns and two interceptions in opposition to the Chicago Bears in Week 9 however Cincinnati misplaced as a result of its protection allowed 47 factors.
The Bengals protection has been traditionally unhealthy this season, permitting a league-high 418.2 yards and 33.4 factors per sport.
So, even when Burrow does make his return Sunday versus the Patriots, it may not matter an entire lot if the Bengals protection is not able to slowing down Drake Maye and New England’s offense.
It additionally needs to be famous that Bengals celebrity broad receiver Ja’Marr Chase was suspended for Sunday’s game after an act of unsportsmanlike conduct in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers final week.
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