Patriots take down Bengals
Tom Brady is back in form and becomes the sixth quarterback to reach 50,000 yards in a career.
NEWENGLAND 43 CINCINNATI 17
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — What a turnaround for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Brady finally looked like a quarterback who has 50,000 yards in his career, becoming the sixth to reach that milestone and throwing for two touchdowns as he rebounded fromthe second- worst loss of his career for a 43- 17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night.
Six days after a 41- 14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Patriots’ offense broke out of its season- long slump. Brady threw for 292 yards and Stevan Ridley gained 117 of the team’s 221 yards rushing against a team that had allowed an NFL-low 11 points per game.
The Patriots ( 3- 2) surpassed that by scoring on their first two possessions on Ridley’s oneyard run and Brady’s 17- yard pass to Tim Wright. They led, 20- 3, at halftime before the Bengals ( 3- 1) cut the lead to10 points with Andy Dalton’s 37- yard pass to Mohamed Sanu.
But Cincinnati came no closer and lost its spot as the last undefeated team.
Stephen Gostkowski added five field goals, the most in his nine- year career.
Brady hadn’t thrown for more than 249 yards this season but topped that as he completed 23 of 35 passes.
His 27- yard completion to Rob Gronkowski put him over the 50,000- yard mark, and he connected for Wright’s touchdown on the next play.
Brady boosted his total to 50,232. John Elway is in fifth place with 51,475.
Dalton was 15 for 24 for 204 yards and was sacked for the first time this season.