The Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots meet Saturday in NFL action from Gillette Stadium. Cincinnati is 10-4 overall this year. The Bengals beat the Buccaneers in their last game. As for New England, they’re sitting at 7-7 after a loss to the Raiders. Check back all season long for free NFL picks at Sports Chat Place.
Cincinnati managed to go 4-3 over their first seven games this year, beating the Jets, Dolphins, Saints and Falcons along the way. The Bengals are 6-1 since then, taking wins over the Panthers, Steelers, Titans, Chiefs, Browns and Bucs.
In the matchup versus Tampa Bay on Sunday, the Bengals went into halftime with a 17-3 deficit. Cincinnati outscored the Bucs 31-6 in the second half for a 34-23 comeback win. QB Joe Burrow posted 200 yards and four scores with one interception.
Over on the New England side, they were 3-4 over their first seven games this year, beating the Steelers, Lions and Browns. The Patriots have gone 4-3 over their last seven outings with wins over the Jets, Colts, Jets again and Cardinals.
Matched up against the Raiders on Sunday, the Patriots took a 17-3 deficit into the break. New England made a game of it in the second half but ultimately fell 30-24 after something of a boneheaded final play. Mac Jones threw for 112 yards and Rhamondre Stevenson rushed 19 times for 172 yards and a score.
The Bengals are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four Saturday games and 5-0 ATS in their last five in December. Cincinnati is 12-2 ATS in their last 14 on turf.
Meanwhile, the Patriots are 1-4 ATS in their last five in December and 0-3-1 ATS in the last four Saturday games. New England is 0-3-1 ATS in their last four in Week 16.
PICK: I’ll probably stay with Cincinnati in this one. The Bengals managed a nice defensive effort against the Buccaneers in their last game, giving up just 92 rush yards and 4-of-12 on third-down conversions while collecting four turnovers. Cincinnati wasn’t great on offense (237 total yards) but it was good enough for the win. There have been a few close calls over this six-game win streak, however.
As for the Patriots, they’ve posted 24 or more points in three of their last four games so I expect them to put up a fight on the scoreboard here. New England made some bad decisions at the end of the Raiders game which cost them a shot at the win as well; overall the team isn’t playing too badly. Ultimately however I like the Bengals defense to thwart New England as Cincinnati notches another win.