The Bengals started the day off with some good news as they welcomed back return specialist Brandon Tate who had been injured a few weeks back.
The Patriots would win the toss and choose to take the ball first. But their opening drive stalled out on third down thanks to a booming sack from Vontaze Burfict.
The Bengals would start their first drive on their own 20-yard line but quickly got into scoring position thanks to a 61-yard bomb from Andy Dalton to A.J. Green.
This would set up a 25-yard screen pass play to BenJarvus Green-Ellis for the touchdown and an early 7-0 lead for Cincinnati.
It wouldn't take long for Tom Brady and the Patriots to tie things up, however, as the quarterback led his team down the field deep into Bengal territory. Miraculously, Shane Vereen — who was fresh off wrist surgery — finished what Brady started with a classic sweep play and a touchdown score.
On the ensuing Bengal drive, a Donta Hightower sack of Dalton put the Bengals in a 3rd down and 24 situation.
Offensive Coordinator Jay Gruden would play it conservative with another short pass to Green-Ellis, but "The Law Firm" made the most of it and barreled his way through the New England defense for a first down.
On the next play, Dalton found a wide-open Jermaine Gresham for a nice gain, but it would be all for not as he had the ball stripped from his hands, leading to a fumble recovery by the Patriot defense.
The Bengals defense would hang tough heading into halftime as the Patriots were forced to kick it away as time on the clock expired.
After two quarters of play, both teams' offenses had been relatively quiet with a score of 7-7. Dalton did have 111 yards in passing but most of that came from the 61-yard pass to Green.
The halftime show at Paul Brown Stadium featured an electric performance by the Ben-Gal Cheerleaders. They tossed out copies of their new 2013-14 calendar to some lucky Cincinnati fans.
The Bengals would get the ball first at the start of the third quarter. But any hopes of converting on third down were erased by a devastating Vince Wilfork sack.
And what is sure to be featured on the SportsCenter Not Top Ten, the Bengals and Patriots would exchange lost fumbles. Carlos Dunlap would recover the first fumble which was coughed up by a no-wrist Shane Vereen. But on the very next play, Green-Ellis would get stripped, giving the Patriots the possession once again.
The Patriots would get the ball into Bengal territory but another monstrous sack by Vontaze Burfict would force New England to go for a field goal.
Kicker Stephen Gostkowski would connect, giving the Patriots a 10-7 lead as the game headed into the final quarter of play.
The Bengals would once again end up with a 3rd and long situation on the next drive. Going deep, Dalton had Green wide open in the end zone but overthrew him. This would force Cincinnati to punt the ball away, leaving the defense with the task of keeping the game close late.
On this drive, there were no big sacks or forced fumbles by the Bengal defense unfortunately. Once the Patriots got to around midfield, Tom Brady found the courageous Shane Vereen down the sideline after a flea flicker play for the score.
And things would go from bad to worse on the kickoff return as Tate would reaggravate his previous injury and had to be carried off the field into the Bengal locker room.
Andy Dalton and the Bengal offense were left with only 1:48 to score 10 points against New England who had been solid on defense all day long.
Following several incomplete passes thrown by Dalton, the Bengals saw their fates sealed as another Donta Hightower sack would end the game and any hopes of a perfect Tecmo Super Bowl season for Cincinnati.
The final score in Cincinnati was the Patriots 17, the Bengals 7. With the loss, Cincinnati was still left searching for their first win against Tom Brady as he moved to 5-0 all-time against the Bengals. The Patriots were led by an inspiring performance from Shane Vereen who made four receptions for 76 yards and carried the ball six times for 35 yards.
The focus of the loss was all the early turnovers, and miscues in the passing game down the stretch. Dalton never really got things going with his receivers following their first drive. The QB said he made no excuses for his poor performance but Bengal fans can't help but wonder if his "bad" physical condition affected his play on the field.
With the loss, the Bengals fall to 4-1 and see their two-game lead cut in half thanks to a Cleveland victory over Buffalo.
Dalton and company will need to regroup as they head to Buffalo next week to take on a solid Bills squad led by former Kentucky Wildcat Stevie Johnson.
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