Patriots Face Bengals Without Suspended Chase

The New England Patriots, riding an eight-game winning streak, will travel to Cincinnati on Sunday to face the struggling Bengals in a matchup that could extend their dominance in the AFC. The 9-2 Patriots, who hold a share of the conference's top seed alongside the Denver Broncos, enter Paycor Stadium as heavy favorites against a 3-7 Bengals team hampered by injuries and a one-game suspension for star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase.

New England secured its latest victory on Thursday night, defeating the New York Jets 27-14 to improve to 9-2 and solidify a 3.5-game lead in the AFC East over the Buffalo Bills. Quarterback Drake Maye has fueled the surge, leading the NFL with 2,836 passing yards through 11 games, including 20 touchdowns and just five interceptions for a 113.2 rating. His recent 281-yard outing against the Jets highlighted the Patriots' ninth-ranked total offense, which has scored at least 23 points while allowing no more than 23 in each of the last eight contests. The team remains perfect on the road at 5-0, covering the spread in every away win this season.

For Cincinnati, the challenges mount. The Bengals have dropped three straight and seven of their last eight,...