FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Bengals coach Marvin Lewis knows his team could just as easily be 3-0, although it wouldn't have come quite as easy as Bill Belichick's Patriots have made it look.  The Bengals offense is not the reason they are 1-2. Rather, the defense has been horrendous.

In a 24-21 loss to Seattle last week, Cincinnati couldn't make a big stop late as Matt Hasselbeck threw his third touchdown pass. The Bengals secondary was torched the previous Sunday by Derek Anderson in a 51-45 loss to the Browns.

As defensively deficient as they are, the Bengals can score points as fast as they can give them up. So it seems their best chance to beat the Patriots tonight at Paul Brown Stadium would be in a shootout.  "This is a very talented and explosive team," Belichick said. "Offensively, I think we know who all of the playmakers are."  Lewis can say the same thing about the Patriots. Both teams have dynamic passing games that can strike quickly.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been almost flawless in guiding the NFL's top-ranked offense, which averages 441 yards.  The Bengals defense ranks 29th, allowing 403 yards a game. The run defense isn't any better than the pass D; both rank 27th.  But the Patriots, who have the top-ranked defense in the NFL, are more concerned about quarterback Carson Palmer and the Bengals offense.

As the AFC Pro Bowl coach in February, Belichick spent time with Palmer (6 feet 5, 230 pounds).  "He's a quarterback that really has pretty much everything you want in a quarterback," Belichick said. "He has great size, throwing mechanics, delivery, accuracy, sees the field well, has a lot of poise in the pocket, is a big, strong kid that's hard to bring down. I knew he was an outstanding player. But when you're up close and right next to the guy like that for several days and then in the game, I have a lot of appreciation and respect for not only how good he is physically but how good he is mentally and his awareness and his field presence."

Palmer had a league-high 80 completions the first three weeks. T.J. Houshmandzadeh came into Week 4 leading the NFL with 29 receptions, while Chad Johnson was third with 25 and first with 442 receiving yards.  "The things they do on the field you just don't teach. Those are things that are God-gifted," Patriots linebacker Junior Seau said.  To keep the ball out of their hands, the Patriots must force Palmer out of the pocket or make him uncomfortable.

"The guy has the ball, so it's definitely important to get to him. If you want to kill a snake, you've got to get to the head," Patriots linebacker Rosevelt Colvin said.  There is no better way to stop an offense than to keep it off the field, so controlling the clock will be another key. The Patriots have excelled in that area, maintaining possession an average of 34:25.

The Bengals might have a more difficult time because running back Rudi Johnson, who averaged 1,407 rushing yards the last three seasons, is out with a hamstring injury. Kenny Watson, who has 60 yards on nine carries (6.7 avg.) this year, will start.  "We're real confident in the things that he can do," Lewis said. "He gives us a different style, a little bit more flashy than what Rudi J. is."

In preparing for Cincinnati, Belichick has emphasized taking care of the ball because the Bengals have been good at creating turnovers in recent years. Since Lewis took over in 2003, the Bengals are second in the NFL with a plus-37 in takeaways.  On defense, the Patriots must clamp down in the red zone. While they have allowed the opposition inside the 20-yard line just five times, the opponents have scored a touchdown every time. And the Bengals have scored all nine times - six touchdowns, three field goals.

Conversely, Brady said it is important for the offense to put the ball in the end zone after crossing the 20. In 14 trips in the red zone, the Patriots have nine touchdowns and three field goals.  "This isn't the game where you just want to get down there and score points. You really need to score touchdowns," Brady said.

 Hardford Courant

http://www.courant.com/sports/football/hc-patriots1001.artoct01,0,5939943.story