You have faced
Seahawks
Browns
Ravens
aka
15th ranked Pass defense
17th ranked Pass defense
31st ranked pass defense.
Now you will face the Patriots 2nd ranked pass defense.
It always amazes me when people who sit there and tout that the only stats that matter is the points on the board turn right around and use the Passing yards allowed stat as a bench mark like it means a damn thing.
Why not mention that the Pats played the following:
Jets : 23 ranked rushing offense and the 27th ranked passing offense.
Bills: 18th ranked rushing offense and the 32 ranked passing offense.
Chargers: 30th ranked rushing offense and the 18th ranked passing offense.
Its really easy for the Pats to be ranked #1 yards allowed, #5 in rushing defense and #2 in passing defense when they've played such crappy offensive teams.
The Ravens are allowing 21 points a game. The Browns are allowing 35 points a game. And the Seahawks are at 16.7 points a game.
The Pats are allowing 11.7 points a game, but they've played the following teams:
Jets: 20th ranked offense in points scored
Bills: 32nd ranked offense in points scored
Chargers: 23rd ranked offense in points scored.
The Jets are allowing 28.7 points a game. The Bills are allowing 26.3 and the Chargers are allowing 24.
So, lets not get all high and mighty about how bad the teams that the Bengals have faced are when the teams that the Pats have faced are just as bad. In fact, the teams that the Pats have faced are significantly WORSE.
Browns, Seahawks, and Ravens have a combined record of: 5-4
Jets, Bills, and Chargers have a combined record of: 2-7
Cinncinnati has the 2nd ranked passing offense in the league. Its foolish to think that they won't be able to air it out. They have Chad Johnson and Houshmandzadeh. Tab Perry and Glen Holt are average, but average can beat you when you have the likes of Johnson and Houshmandzadeh.
The question will be whether their O-line can hold up and stop the Pats pass rush. If it can, it will be a long day for the Pats. If they can't, then the Pats will have a field day.