New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots are learning how to win dirty, as that’s exactly what they did in Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals. With a 26-20 victory, Mike Vrabel’s squad pushed its record to 10-2 on the season, giving it sole possession of the No. 1 seed in the AFC heading into Week 13.
With injuries mounting, and this being the 12th straight week the Pats have had a game, it’s getting tougher and tougher to grind out victories. And yet, when it was time for New England to make winning plays, it did what it has done all season long, and it delivered the goods.
Several players played big roles in this win, and after the game, Vrabel opted to shout out two of those guys. Vrabel praised Demario Douglas for making a huge 37-yard reception early in the fourth quarter, and he gave Andy Borregales a pat on the back for making all four of his field goal attempts and both of his extra point attempts.
“There’s guys in here that stepped up,” Vrabel said in the locker room after the game. “Pop, I appreciate what you did coming out of half, giving us a spark there on third down and helping us. There’s so many guys. Andy, that’s the way to do your job.”
It’s natural to look at the guys who made big plays in this game, like Marcus Jones and Hunter Henry, and attribute the victory to them. But sometimes, it’s the more under-the-radar plays that were made by Douglas and Borregales that lead to wins.
Whatever the case may be, New England won’t complain, so long as it continues to take down its opponents. The Pats will be back in action in Week 13 when they square off against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.
