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What the Patriots are saying about possibly facing Bengals QB Joe Burrow
Burrow has been a full participant at practice this week, putting him in line to play in Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Over the last few weeks, it looked like the Patriots’ matchup against the Bengals on Sunday provided New England another opportunity to continue its winning ways.
However, Cincinnati threw a curveball at New England on Wednesday. Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow was a full participant at practice that day and on Thursday, putting him on track to make a return from his toe injury at least one week earlier than expected.
But Burrow’s possible sudden return hasn’t thrown a wrench into the Patriots’ defensive game plan for Sunday’s game. Patriots acting defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr told reporters that the team is “preparing for both” Burrow and Joe Flacco on Sunday.
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“Flacco is a great quarterback, that’s why he’s been doing it for so long. And then Burrow, a great quarterback,” Kuhr said. “Somewhat similar styles how they operate. Obviously, they have some different physical features to them.
“As far as game-planning and all that, I don’t think much changes,” Kuhr added. “They operate the same system. Zac [Taylor] does a good job of keeping the continuity within the scheme. So, I don’t think much would change from that.”
Flacco has been Cincinnati’s starting quarterback since it traded for him in October, going 1-4 in the games he’s started. The veteran has played well, though, throwing for 1,453 yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions. But Flacco is also dealing with a shoulder injury that’s caused him to be limited at practice this week.
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So, with it becoming more and more likely that Burrow plays on Sunday, the Patriots now have the challenge of having to slow down one of the game’s top quarterbacks. The Patriots don’t seem fazed, though, about having to play last season’s leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
“If [Burrow] plays, he plays. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t. He’s a great quarterback, but Flacco’s a great quarterback. It’s not like it’s night and day between the differences of them,” Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez told reporters, via MassLive’s Mark Daniels.
“You definitely have an open ear for both of them. You’ve got to prepare for both. Two different styles of quarterback. Both are still very good, very high IQ, and know where they want to go with the ball,” Patriots edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson added.
Burrow’s return might be too little, too late for the 3-7 Bengals to turn their season around and get into a spot to make the playoffs. But it could allow Cincinnati to play spoiler over the next couple of months. After Sunday’s game against the Patriots, the Bengals have two matchups with the Ravens in the coming weeks and a game against the Bills.
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Trivia: The Patriots destroyed the Bengals, 43-17, in the infamous “We’re onto Cincinnati” game in 2014. Who scored New England’s first touchdown in that game?
(Hint: It wasn’t a touchdown pass from Tom Brady.)
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics resume NBA Cup play on Friday when they host the Nets at 7:30 p.m. It’s Boston’s third game in group play, going 1-1 in its first two games. The Celtics also have a minus-12 point differential, which could come into play if they’re seeking to advance to the knockout stage. Friday’s game is the first of a three-game homestand, hosting the Magic on Sunday and the Pistons on Wednesday.
As for the Bruins, they continue their four-game road trip on Friday when they take on the Kings at 10:30 p.m. They’ll also face the Sharks in San Jose on Sunday before heading back East to take on the Islanders in New York on Wednesday.
Finally, the Patriots are back from their mini bye week when they take on the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday. Kickoff for that game is at 1 p.m.
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- How has Drake Maye grown as a leader this season? Josh McDaniels explains what he’s seeing.
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- Stephen A. Smith claps back, calls Drake Maye a ‘liar’ over Cam Newton comments
- The one piece of evidence the skeptics miss about the Patriots? They are unbeaten on the road.
Texans maul Josh Allen, Bills en route to win
For the second straight Thursday, the Patriots got some good news on the gridiron. The Texans upset the Bills on Thursday night, 23-19, extending the Patriots’ lead in the AFC East to two games. New England also has the tiebreaker as of Week 12.
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The Texans were able to get the upset by sacking Josh Allen a whopping eight sacks. There were multiple occassions where Allen was slow to get up as a result of the hard hits from Houston’s defense, which has propelled the Texans to a 6-5 record as they seek to make a playoff push.
What nickname do Drake Maye’s Patriots teammates have for him?
Drake Maye’s new nickname has taken sports media by storm, with Will Campbell and Tom Brady even referencing the Drake “Drake Maye” Maye nickname over the last week. But Maye’s Patriots teammates have a different nickname for him.
Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas told WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” that the team calls Maye “Draco.”
On this day:
Twenty-four years ago on Friday, Bill Belichick made the boldest move of his head coaching career. The Patriots coach announced that the team was sticking with Tom Brady at quarterback despite Drew Bledsoe being cleared following the chest injury he suffered in September of that season.
”This is not about Drew losing a job or being beat out or anything like that,” Belichick told reporters at the time. ”This is strictly about the team.”
Brady was 5-3 as the Patriots’ starting quarterback when Belichick made the decision. He didn’t lose a start for the rest of the season, either, helping the Patriots win their first Super Bowl a few months later.
Daily highlight:
The Bills didn’t get a victory on Thursday, but they completed one of the coolest plays of the NFL season in their loss to the Texans. Facing a fourth-and-27 with the game in the balance, the Bills completed a hook-and-ladder for a 44-yard gain.
Trivia answer: Stevan Ridley
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