Kelley Washington was part of the same Cincinnati Bengals draft class as quarterback Carson Palmer. The Patriots wide receiver was a third-round pick of the Bengals in 2003, who used the first overall selection that year on Palmer, betting the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner could lift the franchise out of an era of ineptitude.

Washington saw Palmer, who didn't play a down as a rookie, go from clipboard-toting pup to bona fide Bengals savior during their four seasons together. In 2005, Palmer led Cincinnati to the AFC North crown and its first playoff appearance since 1990. Last year, he was named MVP of the Pro Bowl.

What you need to know about tonight's Bengals-Patriots game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati:

Overview: Cincinnati faces a daunting task. In order to stop a two-game losing streak, it must defeat arguably the league's most complete team. The Patriots have scored in 31 straight quarters and lead the league with a plus-79 point differential (26.3 per game). The number 38 is wild because they've beaten the Jets (38-14), Chargers (38-14) and Bills (38-7). They've averaged 34.8 points in their past nine games, including the playoffs; have won six straight regular season games, dating to 2006; and are 14-3 (.823) in October since 2003.

Scouting the Bengals: The league's No. 2 passing attack (301.0 yards) — led by QB Carson Palmer and WRs Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh — could use a boost from the stagnant, 20th-ranked running game (92.0). TB Kenny Watson, who gets his first start in his fifth season as a Bengal, will try to provide a spark. The inconsistency of the defense and special teams has been especially costly.

Cincinnati looks to repeat its earlier 'Monday Night Football' showing vs. undefeated Patriots.

Bengals defensive end Robert Geathers had a comment and a question.  "It's prime time," he said. "What other place would you rather be?"  The Bengals wish they weren't dragging a two-game losing streak into tonight's nationally-televised game against New England. But there's no place they'd rather be than Paul Brown Stadium, where they KO'd 9-0 Kansas City 24-19 in 2003.

"They don't have many weaknesses, but they can be beaten," Geathers said about the Patriots. "We just have to get after them and have the same attitude when we played the first Monday night game this year."

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is completing almost 80 percent of his passes and has thrown one interception.  A year ago, the Bengals were brimming with confidence when they played host to the New England Patriots in the fourth game of the season.  Cincinnati was 3-0. The Patriots were coming off a loss and seemed to be ripe for the taking. It seemed like a perfect matchup for the Bengals.

It still appeared that way in the first quarter as Cincinnati drove up and down the field. But the Bengals settled for two field goals. Then the Patriots did what championship teams do. They made adjustments, seized momentum and didn't let the Bengals up for air. When it was over, New England had crushed Cincinnati 38-13.

Week 3 Power Rankings

Bengals fans everywhere, please grab a handful of tissues before reading this, I have some sad news. For the first time in the history of the power rankings, the Bengals will not be ranked (please keep in mind that these rankings did not exist from 1991-2002, if they had, the Bengals would have been ranked third to last on a weekly basis, heck, these rankings did not exist until last season). Not ranking the Bengals is sad, as a matter of fact I have not written anything this sad since I wrote the eulogy for my dead goldfish Andre when I was eight-years-old. So here I go, with no will to live, I will attempt to put together this week’s rankings, remember, I rank six teams from each conference because the other twenty schmucks will be spending Martin Luther King day at home. Oh, and one request for Mr. Bill Belichick, video cameras in the Bengals bathroom stalls and post game showers are just as frowned upon as video cameras on the field…

NFC

1. Dallas Cowboys- Remember last week when I said if Rex Grossman played one down then the Cowboys would win, will Rex played one down. Dallas has the hapless Rams this week, if you have money and you like to gamble, take the Cowboys. 38-17 Cowboys.

Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis might be better equipped to win games and influence people after hearing Zig Ziglar.   
His team is underachieving. His attitude needs adjusting. His people skills need reshaping. His leadership needs fine-tuning.  It's time for Marvin Lewis to GET MOTIVATED. Zig Ziglar and his crew of Yes! men are here to help, judging from a full-page advertisement in yesterday's Dispatch.  For a total investment of just $4.95 -- or only $19 for the entire Bengals coaching staff -- Lewis can learn to:

• Get ahead and (more important, given the outcome of the past two games) stay ahead;

• Draft a clear blueprint for success (it's called developing a capable defense);

• Persuade (fans and media) that you know what you're doing (even if you don't).