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Patriots vs. Bengals: Andy Borregales field goal helps take 17-13 lead entering halftime

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Patriots vs. Bengals: Andy Borregales field goal helps take 17-13 lead entering halftime

1 hour ago7 min read

In a gritty, momentum-swinging first half at a charged Paycor Stadium, the 9-2 New England Patriots, riding a nine-game winning streak reminiscent of their 2015 dynasty, found themselves in a classic AFC dogfight against the resilient 3-7 Cincinnati Bengals, taking a narrow 17-13 lead into the locker room. The contest began with a strategic chess match, as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor deferred after winning the coin toss, immediately testing rookie quarterback Drake Maye.The Patriots' opening drive was ominously cut short, not just by a failed third-down conversion but by an injury to left guard Jared Wilson—a moment that evoked the season-long battle of attrition along New England's offensive line. Cincinnati, led by veteran journeyman Joe Flacco, methodically moved the chains, exploiting soft coverage with tight end Mike Gesicki, until a critical drop by the usually reliable Tee Higgins forced them to settle for an early field goal, a small victory for a Patriots defense that bent but didn't break.The narrative shifted violently in the second quarter, however, when Maye, under pressure and perhaps showing his rookie inexperience, airmailed a pass directly into the waiting arms of safety Geno Stone, who returned it for a pick-six that suddenly put the high-flying Patriots in a 10-point hole, a deficit they hadn't faced since Week 3. This was the kind of moment that separates good teams from great ones, and the Patriots' response was immediate and emphatic.Maye, displaying the poise that made him a top draft pick, engineered a masterful drive, converting crucial third-and-short situations with his legs before maneuvering in the pocket to find a wide-open Hunter Henry for a 28-yard touchdown strike, a play that felt like a direct rebuttal to his earlier mistake. Then, the Patriots' defense, a unit that has consistently created game-changing plays all season, delivered the knockout blow of the half when the electric Marcus Jones, a player whose athleticism draws comparisons to a young Tyrann Mathieu, jumped a Flacco pass in the flat and took it to the house, a 14-point swing in a matter of minutes that completely flipped the game's script.The chess match continued as New England, now with the lead, managed the clock expertly before the half. Maye again led a surgical two-minute drill, connecting repeatedly with his tight ends Henry and Austin Hooper to set up a 41-yard Andy Borregales field goal.Yet, in a testament to the never-say-die attitude of this Bengals team—playing without the incendiary Ja'Marr Chase and with a quarterback in Flacco who has seen it all—they responded with a stunning display of their own. A long kick return was called back, but Flacco coolly moved the offense into field goal range, setting up a jaw-dropping 63-yard boot as the half expired, a kick that not only kept Cincinnati within striking distance but sent a clear message that this would be a four-quarter war, setting the stage for a dramatic second half where every possession would carry the weight of a season.

#featured

#New England Patriots

#Cincinnati Bengals

#NFL game recap

#Drake Maye

#Andy Borregales

#halftime score

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