Cincinnati Bengals coaches and players comment on their upcoming game against the New England Patriots.
On playing the Patriots...
"It's another great opportunity for us this week, and a really tough test with the Patriots coming into town. They have a great team. They're having a great year. They're really, really sound in all three phases and really experienced in all three phases. They have a lot of guys that have been there for a long time and have a great understanding of what they're trying to do. It's a great opportunity for our guys, and they're excited for the challenge."
- Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor
"They're defending Super Bowl champions, so we know what they bring to the table and that's the best. At the end of the day I look forward to seeing how they're going to line up and their style of football. They're very different from a lot of teams and that's what makes them who they are. At the end of the day we've got to go out there and play our game and not let them dictate how they want to control the game."
- Bengals Running Back Joe Mixon
On Tom Brady...
"His experience, No. 1. His accuracy. He has a great understanding of what the defense is trying to do and what his offense can do. He's played in the same offense for 20 years now. That's longer than most coaches have coached in an offense. He certainly has seen about everything you can throw at him and is prepared for it. He elevates the players around him – there's no question about it. Having played against him a lot (with previous teams), you can see that his players believe in him. He always puts them in great positions, along with the coaching staff. He always presents a great test for our guys."
- Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor
"His consistency - that's the biggest thing. He's been so efficient throughout his whole career. Regardless of what's gone on, he's found ways to win and found ways to be part of some really good offenses."
- Bengals Quarterback Andy Dalton
"It's definitely going to be a challenge. He's been in the league 20 years. You're not going to fool him and you're not going to show him anything he hasn't seen. To go against the best to ever do it is an incredible opportunity to play some good football."
- Bengals Defensive End Sam Hubbard
"I was 4 years old when he got to the league. It's crazy the level he's continued to play at in year 20. You can see on film the command he has of the offense. His accuracy, his pocket presence - there's so many things that make him great. It's going to be pretty surreal to be out there lining up and trying to sack him."
- Bengals Defensive End Sam Hubbard
On the Patriots defense...
"They've always been considered one of the top defenses in the league. It's because they're smart, they're sound, they all understand their role, they play it well, and they do a great job creating turnovers. As far back as I can remember, they're always at the top of the league in turnover margin, and this year I think they have around 30. They've done a great job in that area and we need to be really dialed in."
- Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor
"They're just sound in everything they do. Guys are always in the right spot. Guys play with great leverage. They're very opportunistic. When they see a tipped ball that's up in the air, they're coming down with interceptions. They're great at forcing fumbles, and all that stuff. They're just really sound all across the board."
- Bengals Quarterback Andy Dalton
"It's pretty consistent throughout the field with what you see from them, in terms of being pretty dialed in to the offense they're facing. Their guys understand the schemes. You rarely see them bust. Once or twice over the course of the game, you see a lot of defenses where a guy made a mistake. That's just something you don't see on tape with them. You look at the safeties, and they've been there a long time. Their linebackers have been there a long time. You have guys that have been in the system for a long time, so that's what you expect."
- Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor
"My thing at first glance is that so many people on their team can do so many different things. That allows them to be kind of unorthodox ... You don't necessarily know where everyone is going to be from snap to snap."
- Bengals Offensive Lineman Trey Hopkins
