Geoff JohnsonThe New England Patriots look to stay undefeated when they visit the Cincinnati Bengals, this Sunday at 1 PM ET, at Paul Brown stadium, in one of the best NFL Week 5 games.
The Patriots arguably played their best game of the season last week when they left Atlanta with a 30-23 victory. QB Tom Brady had 316 yards and two touchdowns and put his team in a position to win in a hostile place.
The problem for the Patriots is they will have to face this game, and the rest of the season without defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, who suffered an Achilles injury.
“You just don’t replace Vince Wilfork,” Bill Belichick said. “We’ll still have his presence around the team and in the locker room and those types of things, which he’s great at. On the field, we’ll miss him, but whoever is out there, those other 11 guys that are out there we’re all going to have to pull a little bit harder.”
New England believes the Bengals are dangerous, especially when Andy Dalton throws deep to AJ Green.
“I feel like we’re going up against a real explosive team this week,” Belichick added. “They’re a good football team that can really score from any place on the field with any of their units. I think those are the kind of things that we really have to do a good job on — taking care of the ball, being able to handle their explosive players and explosive plays and staying out of long-yardage and bad situations offensively.”
This will be the first time Dalton faces New England. Tom Brady is 4-0 against Cincinnati on his career.
The NFL betting odds have the Bengals as 1 point favorite.
Steve Starr 
