Pats pummel Bengals, keep pace with NFL unbeatens
02.10.2007 06:00
Sport and Travel
- Source: USA Today
CINCINNATI — Maybe they're not so perfect after all.
After scoring 38 points in each of their first three victories, the New England Patriots slacked up and failed to hit the mark Monday night. Yet they still put a 34-13 pasting on the Cincinnati Bengals to remain one of four unbeaten teams in the NFL. GAME REPORT: New England 34, Cincinnati 13FOUR DOWNS: Examining key trends from Week 4CHAT: Nate Davis talks fantasy, Tuesday 2 p.m. ET This trip to Paul Brown Stadium, where a Bengals-record 66,113 showed up to cheer but ultimately watched in stunned silence, surely wasn't the test to measure how far Bill Belichick's team can be stretched before reaching its breaking point. "It wasn't perfect," Belichick said. "We're still leaving some stuff out there. I don't think anybody's where they're going to be in a month or at the end of the season. We've only played four games." This one was routine. The Patriots built a 10-0 first-quarter lead and never threatened to let it slip away. Randy Moss had another 100-yard game and two more TD catches, giving him seven for the season. Moss, who declined to talk to reporters, is the first player in NFL history to have 100 yards receiving in each of his first four games with a new team. "He was a great player before he got here," quarterback Tom Brady said. "He's still a great player. He adds a lot to this offense." Brady, the two-time Super Bowl MVP, didn't have to do anything sensational against a depleted defense. He was 25-of-32 for 231 yards and three touchdown passes. Mike Vrabel, the versatile linebacker, hauled in the seventh TD catch of his career as a tight end in a goal-line package. Sammy Morris filled in for starting tailback Laurence Maroney and rushed for 117 yards and a 7-yard TD run. "I think we're doing more as an offense," said Morris, who ran for the second-best total of his career. "We just want to keep it going." Cincinnati's oft-explosive offense was 0-for-7 on third downs. Carson Palmer was intercepted twice. It added up to a third consecutive loss for the Bengals (1-3), and coach Marvin Lewis lambasted his team afterward. "If you don't want to be on this team, please don't show up!" Lewis screamed at his players, loud enough for reporters outside the locker room to hear. "You don't call the offense, you don't call the plays. You just play. Nowhere in the NFL do guys act like this. We've got to figure this out Contributing: The Associated Press
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