Another big week on In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, as the Cincinnati Bengals earned their spot in the AFC playoffs while looking to extend their winning streak to seven games by taking on another "Goat" Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
Unlike last weekend, Joe Burrow and the Bengals' offense was firing on all cylinders in the first half of the game, putting up 22 points, while Lou Anarumo had the defense dialed in, shutting out Mac Jones and the Patriots' offense for a 22-0 lead at the half.
But as good as Burrow and the Bengals' offense was at the start, things stalled as Belichick sprinkled his special magic dust as his defense posted the first Patriots points in the third quarter on a 69-yard interception return for a touchdown and then saw Jones throw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to trail the Bengals 22-18.
The Bengals' offense placed the defense on the ropes. Still, Anarumo saw D.J. Reader, Vonn Bell, and B.J. Hill working to force and recover a fumble when it looked like Belichick was about to add another career win over the Bengals in the closing seconds of the game.
While the offense continued to struggle, the Bengals' defense made one more stand after a great directional punt by Drue Chrisman to close the door on the Patriots, post their seventh consecutive win, and move to 11-4 with two weeks left in the regular season against the AFC leading Buffalo Bills and AFC North rival the Baltimore Ravens.
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