The AFC-leading Patriots extend their winning streak to nine since defeating the rally Bengals

CINCINNATI – Mike Vrabel’s New England Patriots became the first NFL team to reach 10 wins with a 26-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Patriots’ ninth straight win was more of a battle, however, as they rallied from an early 10-point deficit Sunday and endured key injuries.

New England (10-2) won despite being shut down on the left side of its offensive line. Left guard Jared Wilson injured an ankle on the first series of the game and rookie left tackle Will Campbell had a knee injury in the third quarter.

Even with a temporary offensive line, Drake Maye passed for 294 yards and a touchdown.

“That’s what happens in this league. You need everybody,” Vrabel said after the Patriots improved to 6-0 on the road. “You go through the season and you go on the road and it’s tough. Nobody wants to talk about numbers and records, it doesn’t mean that (elaboration).”

The Patriots also got contributions from their defense and special teams. Cornerback Marcus Jones returned an interception 33 yards in the second quarter and Andy Borgeles scored four field goals.

Maye completed just three of his first seven passes, including Geno Stone’s second career pick-6 that was intercepted before flying through the air and running back 33 yards to give the Bengals a 10-0 lead 41 seconds into the second quarter. It was New England’s first double-digit deficit since the second half of its opener against Las Vegas.

The second-year QB got back on track on the next drive, with a 28-yard touchdown to a wide-open Hunter Henry. The 10th-year tight end had a career-high 115 receiving yards on seven receptions.

“That’s what the league is about — fighting through adversity,” said Maye, who was 22 of 35. “I gave them one early in the game and just fought back on the next drive. We had a lot of guys come in, make plays and help us out.”

With Buffalo’s loss in Houston on Thursday night, the Patriots have a 2 1/2-game lead in the AFC East and a half-game lead over Denver atop the conference. New England will be the last AFC team to go on its bye in two weeks.

The Bengals (3-8) have dropped eight of nine since quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in a Week 2 win against Jacksonville. Burrow practiced this week and was expected to return for the Thanksgiving night game in Baltimore, although coach Zach Taylor wasn’t ready to name him the starter.

Joe Flacco completed 19 of 37 passes for 183 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Flacco was without his top two receivers on the last series. Ja’Marr Chase served a one-game suspension last week for spitting on Pittsburgh’s Jalen Ramsey, and Tee Higgins suffered a concussion with 4:50 remaining.

Mitchell Tinsley, who started in Chase’s place, caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Flacco with 4:40 remaining to bring the Bengals within 23-20.

Higgins had a team-high five receptions for 31 yards and Andre Iosos had 61 yards on four catches. Chase Brown had a season-high 19 carries for 107 yards.

“I think any time you lose not one of the best players on your team, but one of the best players in football, people have to step up,” Flacco said. “We still have a group of good players and it’s a shame we didn’t do what we wanted today, but I think we’re capable of it.”

Borregales’ 52-yard field goal gave the Patriots a 26-20 lead with 1:51 remaining.

Flacco drove Cincinnati to the New England 26, but a fourth-down pass intended for Mike Gesicki with 18 seconds left was incomplete.

“Just one of those years where we haven’t found a way at the end of the game, and it’s been frustrating,” Taylor said. “It’s important for everyone to stick with this thing and find a way to get some momentum.”

New England joined the 1961 Houston Oilers as the only teams to win nine straight games by scoring at least 23 points and allowing 23 or fewer points in each game.

After Henry’s touchdown, New England took the lead on the Bengals’ next series when Jones jumped Flacco’s pass attempt with Taj Brooks’ intent in the flat and easily scored. It was the second pick-6 of Jones’ career, with both coming against the Bengals.

“I was just watching the quarterback’s eyes. I saw him flash the running back, so I didn’t want to rush there. Just tried to time it and I did,” Jones said of his team-leading third interception this season.

Evan McPherson became the first Bengals kicker to make a field goal of at least 60 yards when he was good for 63 on the final play of the opening half.

McPherson, who was kicking from the Bengals’ ‘B’ logo at midfield, was straight down the middle on his kick, with plenty of distance. McPherson also had the previous team record with a 58-yarder in 2021.

The fifth-year kicker made what would have been an NFL-record 67-yarder on Oct. 12 in Green Bay, but it was negated because Packers coach Matt LaFleur called a timeout just before the snap. His second attempt was short lived.

“I’ve always thought how cool it would be to get on the other side of the field one day,” McPherson said. “The coaches trust me to go out there and make it, and I’m just happy that they trust me.”

Patriots: S Bradyn Schooler (tkle) and DL Khyiris Tonga (chest) did not return from injuries.

Bengals: Brooks (concussion) and CB Marco Wilson (right hamstring) also did not return.

Patriots: Host the New York Giants on Dec. 1.

Bengals: Thursday night at Baltimore.