Bengals vs Patriots Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds and Picks
Cincinnati Pursuing No. 1 seed in AFC
The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the toughest closing stretches in the NFL this season and so far they have aced it heading into Saturday’s game against the New England Patriots.
The Bengals have won six straight games, including victories over the Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and after a relative breather against the Patriots, they close the regular season with the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.
The Bengals clinched a playoff spot when the New York Jets lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, but the team has loftier goals.
“ … We haven’t won the division. It’s a tough, tough conference this year,” Cincinnati fourth-year coach Zac Taylor told the media. “You’ve got to keep doing it all the way through the season, just keep winning and keep finding a way.”
The Patriots squandered a chance to solidify their playoff standing in last week’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, which ended in embarrassing fashion for the team.
New England’s chances of making the playoffs are down to 19%, but a win this week and another the following week against the Miami Dolphins might just do the trick.
They will need to execute and coach far better than they have to this point in the season if they are to beat a team of the quality of Cincinnati, something they haven’t done this season.
Let’s check the latest NFL odds, stats, injury reports and NFL lines for Bengals vs Patriots. We’ve plenty of Vegas NFL odds and NFL week 16 picks for you to consider.
Bengals vs Patriots Betting Lines
Cincinnati’s Wilcox Cashes in on Opportunity
Mitch Wilcox may not be in the starting lineup for long, but the second-year tight end has made the most of the opportunity, including catching his first career touchdown last week.
Wilcox has taken over Hayden Hurst, who has missed the last two games with a calf injury and was a limited participant in practice Tuesday. Wilcox caught the touchdown at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, where he played his college football in South Florida.
As well as Joe Burrow and the offense played against the Buccaneers, it was the defense that made all the headlines by creating four straight turnovers off future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, including interceptions by Tre Flowers and Germaine Pratt.
That defense, which will be without end Sam Hubbard and his 6½ sacks until at least the playoffs due to a calf injury, now gets to face a Patriots team that has turned it over 19 times.
New England’s Stevenson Nearing 1,000 Yards Rushing
Aside from his ill-advised lateral in Vegas, Rhamondre Stevenson continues to be the best thing the Patriots have going for them and will once again be the key to winning this game.
The second-year running back out of Oklahoma continues to rack up impressive yardage despite playing in an offense that struggles to execute even rudimentary passing plays.
Stevenson put up 172 yards and 9.1 yards per carry against the Raiders and is less than 100 yards away from going over 1,000 on the season. The Bengals have been solid against the run, and they would be wise to stack the box and make the Patriots beat them through the air.
Bengals vs Patriots Game Injuries
Bengals vs Patriots Head-to-Head
The Patriots have won three straight games against the Bengals and are 7-2 versus Cincinnati under Bill Belichick, but the teams haven’t met since 2019.
New England leads the series 17-9, including 10-2 at home and 4-0 at Gillette Stadium.
Bengals vs Patriots Game Information
- Game: Bengals vs Patriots
- Date/Time: Saturday, December 24, 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
- How to Watch Bengals vs Patriots? CBS
Bengals vs Patriots Live stream: NFL Game Pass
Take a Look at Other 2 Previews, Picks & Predictions For NFL Week 16 Matchups
- Lions vs Panthers Odds, Game Preview, Live Stream, Picks & Predictions
- Texans vs Titans Odds, Game Preview, Live Stream, Picks & Predictions
Bengals vs Patriots Weather Conditions
26°, 10-20 mph wind, 0% chance of rain, outdoor stadium, turf field
Bengals vs Patriots Picks & Prediction
Predicted Score Bengals 31, Patriots 10
- Worth Betting on the Moneyline?
The Bengals will win this game going away, but -190 odds are hardly attractive.
- Worth Betting ATS?
The Bengals are favored by 3½ on the road against the Patriots, who are 2-5 as a home underdog since 2016. Lay the points with the Bengals.
- Worth Betting on the Totals?
This game could finish right around the number.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.