Cincinnati, Ohio – The Patriots are aiming to extend their winning streak to nine games against the Bengals, and New England's roster is mostly healthy heading into Sunday's game.

New England's game-day inactives are LB Jahlani Tavai (personal), G Caedan Wallace, TE C.J. Dippre, WR Efton Chism III, DL Joshua Farmer, and QB Tommy DeVito is the emergency third quarterback. Despite carrying questionable designations, RB Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) and LB Harold Landry III (knee) are officially active. As for Cincinnati, the Bengals did not activate star QB Joe Burrow from injured reserve this week, meaning QB Joe Flacco will start, and star WR Ja'Marr Chase (suspension) will not play on Sunday. The Bengals inactives are DE Trey Hendrickson, RB Samaje Perine, WR Jermiane Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DE Cam Sample, and QB Sean Clifford is the emergency third quarterback for Cincy.

Starting with the Patriots offense, reinforcements have arrived in an upcoming matchup with the lowest-ranked defense in points allowed, total yards allowed, and DVOA. Returning to the lineup for the Patriots are WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (toe), and TE Austin Hooper (concussion). Stevenson, who was officially listed as questionable heading into the game, returns following a three-game absence. Boutte is back after missing the last two games, while Hooper sat out last Thursday night's win over the Jets due to a head injury.

New England listed Stevenson as questionable as he works his way back from a toe injury, which has held him out since Week 8. In his stead, rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson broke out with five total touchdowns in Weeks 10-11. Although the rookie will continue to have a significant role, Henderson has played 82.1% of the offensive snaps in the previous three games, which is a hefty workload for any running back. Stevenson's return allows the Patriots to manage the snaps down the stretch for their top two running backs.

When the team drafted Henderson in the second round last April, the hope was that Henderson and Stevenson would combine to form a thunder-and-lightning duo. As we know, Henderson has excellent breakaway speed, while Stevenson is more of a downhill power-back, with the two backs having complementary skill sets. The comparison that we've used in the past is the Lions backfield: Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. In Detroit, Gibbs plays roughly 60% of the snaps while Montgomery is on the field for 40% of the snaps, which feels like a good split for New England's duo moving forward.

As for wide receiver, Boutte, the Patriots top 'X' receiver, returns after a two-game absence from a hamstring injury. Boutte has been one of the league's most efficient deep threats, catching a team-high six deep passes from QB Drake Maye this season. New England has replaced Boutte nicely in the last two games with receivers Mack Hollins and rookie Kyle Williams. But one would expect that Boutte will step back into his usual role, with a top mix of Boutte, Hollins, Stefon Diggs, and DeMario Douglas against the Bengals on Sunday.

Next, Hooper returns after a one-game absence due to a concussion. The Patriots replaced Hooper with a combination of FB Jack Westover and C Ben Brown as an eligible offensive linemen for nine snaps, two packages they could still use this week. That said, with a solid tandem in Hunter Henry and Hooper, New England has played 34.1% of its offensive snaps with at least two tight ends on the field, so one would expect the '12' personnel package with Henry and Hooper to return this week.

QB Drake Maye's Supporting Cast

OL - LT Campbell, LG Wilson, C Bradbury, RG Onwenu, RT Moses

TE - Henry, Hooper, Westover (FB)

RB - Stevenson, Henderson, Jennings

WR - Diggs, Boutte, Hollins, Douglas, Williams

With the Patriots expecting to start the same five along the offensive line for the 11th time in 12 games, above is their projected supporting cast around QB Drake Maye this week.

Moving over to the defense, captain Harold Landry III (knee) is officially active despite carrying a questionable designation into Sunday's game. Landry is tied for the team lead with 41 total pressures to go along with 5.5 sacks, rushing over the right tackle opposite starting EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson. New England has vet Anfernee Jennings, undrafted rookie Elijah Ponder, Caleb Murphy, and rookie Bradyn Swinson as depth options to rotate in for Landry, if necessary.

After being signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad earlier this week, Swinson will make his NFL debut on Sunday. The LSU product was a productive pass-rusher in college, logging 60 total pressures in his final season in Baton Rouge. The fifth-rounder could get an opportunity to rush the quarterback in obvious passing situations on Sunday.

The Patriots also elevated DT Jeremiah Pharms from the practice squad this week, likely to help replace DT Milton Williams, who was placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. Pharms and DT Eric Gregory are active, while rookie Joshua Farmer is inactive. Farmer has been managing an ankle injury that held him out of the Week 11 win over the Jets. Although he didn't carry an injury designation into the game, the Patriots may be being cautious with the rookie.

Alongside standout DT Christian Barmore, DT Cory Durden had an expanded role on third downs once Williams exited last Thursday night's win over the Jets. Durden, who has six total pressures in his last two games, will likely continue to take on a larger role, as will DT Khyiris Tonga, while Gregory and Pharms could mix in as depth players.

Lastly, WR Efton Chism III is inactive with the Patriots back at full strength at wide receiver. The Patriots will need to replace Chism on kickoff returns, a role the rookie has filled over the last three weeks. New England could lean on Henderson and RB Terrell Jennings as its primary kickoff returns, while WR Kyle Williams is another option to return kickoffs on Sunday.

As mentioned, the Bengals didn't activate star QB Joe Burrow (toe) from injured reserve this week, so it'll be Flacco at quarterback for Cincinnati on Sunday. Flacco has put up impressive numbers since arriving in Cincy via trade in Week 6, with the Bengals offense averaging 28.6 points (fourth in the NFL) and 279.8 passing yards (third) in Flacco's five games as the starter. Although they'll be down Burrow and Chase, Cincinnati's offense with Flacco, star WR Tee Higgins, and company still has the firepower to challenge the Patriots defense.

Coming off a mini-bye week following a Thursday night win in Week 11, the Patriots roster health is in good shape. With a win on Sunday, New England will extend its winning streak to nine games, its longest winning streak since 2015. It would be just the fourth time in franchise history that the Patriots had a winning streak of nine-plus games (2003, 2007, 2015).

The Patriots visit the Bengals at Paycor Stadium with kickoff at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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