FOXBORO. Mass. - After allowing more than 500 total yards and more than 200 yards rushing in the 43-17 loss to the Patriots Sunday night, the Bengals defense vowed to fix one of their worst outings in recent memory. It's believed to be the first time since the second game of the 2007 season the Bengals gave up more than 500 yards in a 51-45 loss in Cleveland.
"Embarrassing. We pride ourselves on stopping the run," said defensive lineman Robert Geathers.
Nose tackle Domata Peko said the Bengals had trouble adjusting to the Patriots' no huddle on the first two drives when they bolted to a 14-0 lead. On the first drive of the game, a 10-play microwave dissection, the Pats ran it eight times.
"They got us when we were in our nickel front," Peko said. "They kind of got us off kilter in the beginning of the game. (Quarterback Tom Brady) was on the ball. We didn't have our calls in. We were looking at the sidelines trying to get our calls and he was on the ball before we were even ready. That was crucial. The tempo, and we missed some tackles."
The tight ends ran rampant on them for 11 catches and 185 yards. SAM linebacker Emmaneul Lamur also chalked it up to the tempo.
"We knew they were coming out no huddle, that they would come out fast," Lamur said. "It wasn't because we didn't know what was coming. We were misaligned. It was the little things. We'll get them fixed."
The theme emerged quickly. The Patriots got pounded in Kansas City last week and endured a heap of abuse.
"They bounced back and put a whipping on us. We have to do the same thing," Peko said.
GREEN's DAY: Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green finished with five catches for 81 yards as the Patriots finally did what their fans wanted and put cornerback Darrelle Revis on the other team's best receiver. With Revis on him, Green had three catches for 55 yards and when Revis left with a hamstring injury midway through the third quarter, Green caught a 17-yard touchdown pass.
"He didn't do anything special," Green said. "He's still a great corner, but he didn't do anything to me that hasn't been done before. They bracketed me on the outside and he tried to get me to go inside. Nothing special.
"I don't feel like he shut me down," Green said. "I had a step on him most of the night, we just didn't make the plays."
It was Revis' first big moment as a Patriot after coming over from Tampa Bay in the offseason.
"They were great matchups, man. I'm sure he was looking forward to it as well," Revis said. "I talked to him after the game as well and I just told him I'd probably see him down the road in the future. It was great, a great matchup. He's a great competitor and a great receiver. One of the top guys, so I did talk to him after the game and said, 'Hey man, just keep up the great work that you're doing and it was good playing against you.'"
STILLS HONORED: The Patriots did a classy thing during the third quarter when they played a video tribute to Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still and his four-year-old daughter Leah as they saluted her fight against cancer. Then the Patriots cheerleaders unveiled Still's No. 75 jersey they purchased from the Bengals Pro Shop last week.
It was extremely emotional for Still even though he was in the middle of a game.
'It was very emotional to see that on the board, my daughter and those brave kids fighting cancer," Still said. "Just seeing the cheerleaders take off their jackets and wearing the jerseys put it over the top. It's amazing. It's very emotional. Every time I see a video like that that reminds me what my daughter and those other kids are going through, it's definitely hard to fight back the tears."
Reporters informed Still that Patriots owner Robert Kraft donated $25,000 to Cincinnati Children's Medical Center for pediatric cancer research.
"I didn't know he gave a donation," Still said. "That's great. It's great how everybody has been stepping up, not just from here [Cincinnati], but across the country. It has just been amazing and it is great for the cancer community."
50,000: Brady went over 50,000 passing yards Sunday.
"I'm a lucky guy," Brady said. "50,000 yards means – you know, I've played in the best place in the league for a long time, playing for the best owner and the best coach and being the most prepared because our coaches get us that way each week and playing with the best group of guys who are really selfless. We always talk about what Patriots football is and I think you saw it tonight."
