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Sports Interaction Staff
Patriots vs. Bengals Point Spread: NFL Week 15 Odds, Prediction
An otherwise lopsided snooze of a game has been livened up with some real DRAMA. The Bengals organization is accusing the Patriots of illegally filming their sideline last Sunday in order to study their play signals. The Patriots – who have never done anything like that before! – claim that the filming was just part of a documentary being made about one of their scouts. What they should have said is that they hardly need tape to beat the 1-12 Bengals.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
It’s been a minute since there was concern about the New England Patriots’ ability to win games, and although they’re priced as favorites here, it is remarkable that they are just 9-point favorites against the worst team in the NFL. The Pats sit at 10-3 with a near-lock on the division title and that coveted first-round bye, but it’s not all roses in Foxborough.
Offensive issues plague the Patriots, as was shown in last week’s 23-16 loss to the Chiefs, and in the previous week’s loss to the Texans. That loss to Kansas City ended New England’s 21-game home winning streak.
The Patriots have seen their last four games decided by fewer than 10 points. This is a team used to covering double-digit spreads.
New England Patriots
The Patriots now have three losses in the last five weeks, and the conversation about what’s going wrong is very much centered around their 42-year-old quarterback. It’s not all on Tom’s aging shoulders, however, as he simply doesn’t have anyone to throw to. His only real target of late is Julian Edelman, who leads the team with 350+ receiving yards.
Brady’s QBR is currently 51.6. He’s ranked 29th in terms of yards per attempt, which is the fifth-lowest of all quarterbacks in the league who have started at least seven games.
Garbage offense aside, it’s that stout Patriots defense that makes New England a fearsome foe. They rank number one in terms of restricting total yards and they lead the NFL in interceptions.
Cincinnati Bengals
A single win against the New York Jets early in December ended the longest losing streak in Bengals history, as Andy Dalton finished 22 of 37 for 243 yards for a final score of 22-6.
It would not be a shock if Dalton were to wrap up his career in the next year or so, and he’d likely be joined in retirement by wide receiver A.J. Green. Almost the whole roster is in need of a refresh, but there is potential in some of the younger players, specifically, in running back Joe Mixon. In spite of the horrific Cincinnati offensive line, which is almost the worst in the league at run-blocking, Mixon still ranks 14th in the league in rushing yards. Not an easy task with no protection.
The Bengals defense is abysmal, giving up the second-most yards per game and the most rushing yards. They’re 10th in terms of giving up points, with an average of 25 per game. The Patriots are by no means offensive wizards these days, but they can handle the Bengals.
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