Super Bowl champion Patriots could reportedly miss out on playing in NFLs 2019 regular-season opener

Table of Content

• to Watch: Patriots face AFC test vs. Bengals
• Betting Breakdown: Week 16 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
• Analysis: Judon punches Pro Bowl Games ticket
• Countdown begins to historic 2023 Army-Navy Football Game at Gillette Stadium
• Why Patriots' Lawrence Guy deserves NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
• Peyton, Eli Manning weigh in on new competitions at 2023 Pro Bowl Games

Allegedly, the cameraman proceeded to point his camera at the Bengals coaching staff and sideline for essentially the entire quarter. The Bengals employee reported him to media relations, who reported him to security; security then seized the film and leaked it to Jay Glazer, who made the footage public. This was the second time the current Patriots administration had been embroiled in an unauthorized videotaping scandal, following the Spygate controversy in 2007. This was the Pats' first win in Cincinnati since 2007, the same year the Pats became the first team to win all regular season games since the league expanded to 16 games in 1978.

In a rematch of Super Bowl LII, the Patriots won a defensive battle 17–10. Their only touchdown came on a trick play in the third quarter, in which Tom Brady threw a screen pass to Julian Edelman who then proceeded to throw a touchdown pass to Phillip Dorsett. With this win, the Patriots secured a winning season for the 19th year in a row. In the 4th quarter, down two scores, Brady threw an interception to Earl Thomas which ultimately killed any chance of winning for the Patriots.

to Watch: Patriots face AFC test vs. Bengals

NFL Network's Thomas Davis shares three ways the Philadelphia Eagles and backup quarterback Gardner Minshew can beat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16 of the 2022 NFL regular season on 'NFL Total Access'. Tight end Benjamin Watson was suspended for four games at the start of the season for failing a drug test from March. This was also Tom Brady's last season with the team, as he announced he was entering free agency and later signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 20, 2020.

The next drive, the Patriots defense showed improvement, holding the Ravens to a field goal. The Patriots, however, did not improve offensively as they had to punt after a 9-yard sack by Patrick Onwuasor. Despite dominating time of possession in the first half, New England found itself tied with Buffalo by halftime due to a Rex Burkhead fumble on the opening drive and a failed fourth down conversion, which led to points for the Bills. After a back-and-forth third quarter, New England regained the lead as Burkhead scored a go-ahead touchdown with just over 5 minutes to go.

Betting Breakdown: Week 16 vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Phillip Dorsett had a spectacular game, leading the Patriots in receiving yards and touchdowns, catching four passes on four targets for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Josh Gordon had three receptions for 73 yards in his first game since Week 13 of the 2018 season. Moreover, the Patriots defense played well, holding the Steelers to 308 yards and just three points. On February 4, 2019, de facto defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Brian Flores was hired as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins also hired wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea to be their offensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer to serve in that same capacity, in addition to a role as the defensive pass game coordinator.

New England marched 60 yards down the field, but the drive stalled at the New York 22. New England would score on a forced fumble by Jamie Collins which was returned by Kyle Van Noy for a touchdown. Additionally, on the next New England possession, they scored another touchdown on a 1-yard QB sneak by Brady. With no score changes for the remainder of the game, the Patriots finished with a 35–14 victory. New England went three-and-out on their following drive but scored on a 25-yard pass to Phillip Dorsett thereafter. In the Patriots' last possession of the first half, even with good field position, they failed to capitalize with a touchdown, settling for another field goal.

Analysis: Judon punches Pro Bowl Games ticket

The Patriots will have a November bye week for the seventh time in eight seasons. The Patriots will play two NFC East teams coming out of the bye with a Nov. 17 game at the Philadelphia Eagles followed by a Nov. 24 tilt at home against the Dallas Cowboys. During the December 8 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, the Patriots are alleged to have spied on the Bengals' sideline. The Patriots, who were scheduled to play the Bengals the following week, sent a video team to Cleveland to film a documentary of an advance scout, part of the "Do Your Job" series on the Patriots' website. This video contractor was given media credentials by the Browns, but the Bengals and NFL were not made aware of the presence of the Patriots' video crew.

When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division. Oakland and Indianapolis finished ahead of NY Jets based on conference record. Denver finished ahead of Indianapolis and NY Jets based on conference record. This was the Patriots' only game outside of the Eastern Time Zone during the 2019 season, and their first loss to Houston in a decade. Defensive line coach Brendan Daly was hired by the Kansas City Chiefs to serve in that same capacity.

Also of significance, Devin McCourty obtained his fifth interception of the season, leading the league in this category as of Week 7. Jets quarterback Sam Darnold struggled immensely, finishing with a mere 3.6 QB rating and four interceptions. Beginning his 20th season in the league, Tom Brady finished the game with 341 yards and three touchdowns, while Julian Edelman recorded his 500th reception with the Patriots, becoming the fifth player to reach that milestone.

In the end, the defense still came through by making a critical stop on the Bills' final possession. Regardless, with the victory, the Patriots improved to 4–0 for the first time since the 2015 season. Special teams ace Matthew Slater also scored his first career touchdown on an 11-yard blocked punt return. Furthermore, with his interception off Josh Allen, Devin McCourty became the first player to record four interceptions in the first four games of a season since Minnesota Vikings safety Brian Russell in 2003.

New England would manage to reach the red zone once again, but yet another possession was hampered, and they obtained a field goal. After a series of sacks and penalties on Cleveland, their drive lost momentum immediately and they failed to convert on 4th and 16 at their own 19. The Patriots sought to capitalize off the stop, but Mike Nugent missed his field goal wide left in what was his last game as a Patriots; he was cut from the team just days later.

On the road for the second straight week, the Patriots flew to FedExField to face the 0–4 Washington Redskins. Initially, both teams traded punts, but on the succeeding possession, Patriots' defenders missed numerous tackles and Washington scored on a 65-yard run by Steven Sims. However, New England responded quickly with a no-huddle offense and marched 75 yards, scoring on a 6-yard catch by Julian Edelman. On the extra-point, newly signed kicker Mike Nugent missed the kick, his first as a Patriot. Neither team could reach midfield on any of the remaining possessions of the first quarter. With the Patriots' first drive in the second, they raced down the field to the Washington 19, but were stalled and forced to settle for a 37-yard field goal.

On Cleveland's first play, Baker Mayfield threw a shovel pass pick to Lawrence Guy who returned it to the Browns' 11. Tom Brady would hit Julian Edelman on an 8-yard touchdown, two plays later. Finally ending their streak of turnovers, the Browns reached midfield and punted.

On the ensuing New England drive, they would score on a 14-yard run by Michel. Both teams exchanged punts for the rest of the game and the Patriots would score an additional touchdown on a 10-yard pass to Ryan Izzo in a 10-play, 58-yard possession. At the end of regulation, New England defeated the Redksins in a final score of 33–7. Hoping to solidify their prowess in the AFC East, the Patriots flew to New Era Field for their Week 4 matchup against a division rival – the 3–0 Buffalo Bills. The Patriots began with the ball and started well with a 15-yard rush by Sony Michel on the first play. In contrast, the defense maintained its tremendous play by intercepting Josh Allen on the Bills' first drive; Devin McCourty claimed his fourth pick of the season.

Furthermore, New England's defense continued its dominant play by shutting out the Jets' offense and sacking Luke Falk five times. The Patriots' defense has not allowed a touchdown in 17 quarters, last occurring in the fourth quarter of the 2018 AFC Championship Game. Also, this was the fifth consecutive game, including playoffs, in which the Patriots did not allow any touchdowns in the first half, tracing back to the 2018 AFC Championship.

For the first time since 2009, Rob Gronkowski, the team's former starting tight end, was not on the active roster as he announced his retirement on March 24, 2019. Also, for the first time since 2010, the Patriots had a different kicker on the regular season roster as the struggling Stephen Gostkowski was placed on IR; he was replaced by midseason signings Mike Nugent, Nick Folk, and Kai Forbath. Long-time assistant Brian Flores was not part of the Patriots coaching staff for the first time since 2003, as he left to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins on February 4, 2019. New England will enjoy the bye week in Week 10 following a Sunday night game in Baltimore against the Ravens.