The Patriots have arrived in Cincinnati, where the big news of the day is on the Bengals side of things ahead of Sunday afternoon's game at Paycor Stadium.
The Bengals did not activate star QB Joe Burrow (toe) from injured reserve by the 4 p.m. ET deadline on Saturday, meaning backup QB Joe Flacco will make his sixth start since being traded to Cincinnati earlier this season. Burrow returned to practice in full capacity on Wednesday and Thursday, but was limited in Friday's session and will now aim to return to the lineup when the Bengals visit the Ravens on Thanksgiving night.
As for the Patriots, New England elevated DT Jeremiah Pharms from the practice squad for Sunday's game vs. the Bengals. On Saturday, RB Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) and LB Harold Landry III (knee), who are both listed as questionable on the team's final injury report, made the trip to Cincinnati with the team. Along with the positive momentum for Landry III and Stevenson, the Patriots are also expected to get starting WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), TE Austin Hooper (concussion), LB Christian Elliss (hip), and DL Joshua Farmer (ankle) back on Sunday.
Starting with the Bengals quarterback news, Flacco might not be a two-time Pro Bowler in his prime like Burrow, but the 40-year-old veteran has been productive. The Bengals offense is averaging 28.6 points (fourth in the NFL) and 279.8 passing yards (third) in Flacco's five games as the starter. At first glance, being down Burrow and star WR Ja'Marr Chase (suspension) is a break for the Patriots, but Flacco has played well.
Cincy mostly runs the same system regardless of who is at quarterback. With Burrow and Flacco, the Bengals are a shotgun-heavy offense that throws the ball at one of the highest clips in the NFL. In the first two weeks with Burrow, the Bengals were in shotgun on 76.1% of their offensive snaps with just a 30.3% called run rate, while in Flacco's five starts so far, they've been a 78.3% shotgun offense (fourth-highest in the NFL) and a 33.3% called run rate (fourth-lowest). Based on the statistical splits, not much has changed for Bengals head coach Zac Taylor with Flacco.
Stylistically, Patriots defenders pointed out a key difference between the two quarterbacks. Among 40 qualified quarterbacks, Flacco's 2.44s average time to pass attempt is the fifth-fastest release in the league, whereas Burrow extends plays more regularly with a 2.65s release time. The Flacco offense has been more quick-hitting than the Burrow version, while the 40-year-old veteran doesn't move as well as Burrow. Although there aren't any major pivots scheme-wise, the playmaking threat is lessened without Burrow in the lineup.
That said, the general game plan stays the same. Flacco is going to want to feed the ball to star receiver Tee Higgins, and the Bengals have potential size mismatches in the slot with WR Andrei Iosivas and tight ends Noah Fant and Mike Gesicki. Plus, RB Chase Brown is a shifty back who is tough to cover out of the backfield. New England will likely use top corners Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III to defend Higgins, but one key to the game will be how they match Cincinnati's size in the slot, as Higigns (6-4), Iosivas (6-3), Fant (6-4), and Gesicki (6-6) all run inside routes that could be tricky for the Patriots to match up against.
As for the Patriots personnel, Landry III carries a questionable designation into Sunday's game due to his knee injury. The Pats captain traveled with the team to Cincinnati and was a full participant in the final two practices this week, a good sign he'll play. Landry is tied for the team lead with 41 total pressures to go along with 5.5 sacks, and is a stout run defender who typically aligns over the right tackle.
New England has several depth options in veteran Anfernee Jennings, undrafted rookie Elijah Ponder, Caleb Murphy, and recently added rookie Bradyn Swinson, who was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster earlier this week. Swinson was a fifth-round draft choice who was an effective pass-rusher in college, logging nine sacks and 58 total pressures in his final season at LSU in 2024. The Pats could give Swinson a shot, but based on the depth chart so far this season, it seems more likely that Jennings and Ponder would be the next men up for Landry, if needed.
At running back, head coach Mike Vrabel indicated that Stevenson is on track to return from a three-game absence due to a toe injury. Although he has broken out with five touchdowns in his last two games, rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson has been playing 82.1% of the offensive snaps without Stevenson in the lineup over the last three weeks. Henderson will likely continue to get plenty of opportunities as a home-run threat (two long touchdowns vs. the Bucs), and last week, it was Henderson shining in the red zone that saw him score three times vs. the Jets. However, having Stevenson available to take some of the workload off Henderson is a good thing.
Lastly, Pharms being elevated from the practice squad for the first time this season is likely to help the Patriots build depth to replace standout DT Milton Williams on Sunday. Earlier this week, Williams was placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, leaving a void in the middle of the defensive line. Last season, Pharms logged two sacks and 19 total pressures while playing the majority of his snaps as an interior pass-rusher. Pharms could be in the mix to replace some of Williams' third-down snaps, along with DT Cory Durden, who stepped in last week, while NT Khyiris Tonga (early-down/short-yardage) and standout DT Christian Barmore continue in their roles.
The Patriots will visit the Bengals for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff in Cincinnati on Sunday.
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