BSJ Game Report: Bengals 22, Patriots 18 - Stevenson fumble ruins chance of Christmas Eve miracle comeback

Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ loss to the Bengals in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Patriots fumble away chance for miracle victory: After falling behind 22-0 at halftime, the Patriots came all the way back and stood 5 yards and 1 minute away from walking off with a stunning comeback victory over one the best teams in the AFC. But Rhamondre Stevenson was knocked back 3 yards and fumbled on his second effort, the Bengals recovered and the Patriots walked off losers for the fourth time in five games and second-straight home game.

"Got the ball, was trying to make something happen. Probably doing more than I was supposed to do," Stevenson said. "Probably should have just went down. Ultimately they took the ball from me and I fumbled."

Would have been fine if the officials ruled forward progress had been stopped, but they did not. I don't think that can be reviewed because it's a judgment call. 

Referee Craig Wrolstad was asked by the pool reporter about the play.

Question: How much consideration was there to blowing the fumble play with New England running back Rhamondre Stevenson dead due to forward progress being stopped?

Wrolstad: “In order to have forward progress, the runner has to be controlled by the defense. He has to be held and controlled, and basically have his feet taken away. We felt that he still had his feet. So, we did not feel that he was held and controlled by the defense. He was still free to gain yardage and then also, obviously, there was still a chance that he could fumble.”

Defense posts second-half shutout, gets two turnovers: Joe Burrow completed 28 of 36 passes for 284 yards and three TDs in the first half as the Bengals converted 78 percent of third downs. They scored on four of their five first-half drives, and the second ended with a red zone pick. In the second half, the Bengals didn't have a drive longer than 48 yards and four went for fewer than 20. Marcus Jones had a pick-six for New England's first points on a blitz where Kyle Dugger forced Burrow to throw it up for grabs, and Matthew Judon had a huge forced fumble of Ja'Marr Chase with 3:12 left.

Offense doesn't do anything until they opened up passing game, unleashed Kendrick Bourne: A week ago, Tyquan Thornton played 60 snaps while Kendrick Bourne was on the field for just 11. Bourne only had one target in the first half (not caught) on Saturday, but in the second half, Bourne caught 6 of 8 for 100 yards and a touchdown. At some point, it appeared the Patriots scrapped their quick game passing for the most part and allowed Mac Jones to throw down field. In the first half, the Patriots had 70 yards and was 0 for 4 on third down, as Jones was 5 of 8 for 34 yards and Bailey Zappe chants were heard. Jones finished 21 of 33 for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

TURNING POINT

Jones' pick-six, which changed the game, and then, ultimately Stevenson's fumble. The Patriots were in perfect position to score and leave the Bengals with no time. But, as is their pattern over the last 3 years, the Patriots just couldn't execute well enough and coughed up a potential comeback win.

"Disappointing finish here," Belichick said. "Competitive game. Things to work with but in the end just not enough. Disappointing result."

SECOND GUESS

I don't have a problem with how the Patriots handled the sequence that ended with the Stevenson fumble. You have to manage the game, and they were doing that. If anything, just blame the coaching for this team not being buttoned up enough. 

I did not like the Patriots punting on 4th-and-1, down 15-0, at the New England 39. Have to find a way to make something happen.

THREE UP

Kendrick Bourne: When the stories are written about this season, how Bourne has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff — leading to one of Jones' favorite targets being taken away from him — will be one of the biggest question marks.

Marcus Jones: Had a rough time in an impossible assignment against much taller WR Tee Higgins, but his pick-six and 15-yard reception to get the team into the red zone with two minutes left were huge.

Matthew Judon: Had a sack, a few more pressures and a huge forced fumble. Not dominating, but a pretty good performance when the team needed it.

THREE DOWN

Tyquan Thornton: Caught just 1 of his 3 targets for 8 yards and had a huge drop on a perfect deep pass from Jones that could have changed the tenor of this game a lot earlier.

Rhamondre Stevenson: His 2.3-yard average wasn't his fault against a good defense, but he can't fumble there.

Devin McCourty: The Bengals, like the Raiders, were peppering the middle of the field, especially in the red zone — including one dropped TD. That's his area, and other teams are going after it. Yes, he did have an interception, but that was more about the receiver stopping his route. 

INJURIES

TE Hunter Henry (knee): Got hurt because Jonnu Smith ran into him, did not return.

TE Jonnu Smith (concussion): Got hurt because the passing game spacing was terrible. Did not return.

DE Matthew Judon: Returned to the game.

CB Marcus Jones: Returned to the game.

TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

Patriots' lack of a real passing offense cost them two tight ends today: This is how Hunter Henry was knocked from the game.

Jonnu Smith was knocked from the game at the end of this catch.

This is directly the result from the Patriots' porous passing game — the routes, concepts and execution. We've been harping on it for weeks — this should not be happening. You should almost never have two receivers run into each other, you should not have three receivers in the same area. Yet we see this repeatedly every week with this team. This is terrible, and that it left them only practice squad TE Scotty Washington, and hurt two expensive players in the process .... it adds insult to injury.

Bottom line, the Patriots could have folded but didn't: I know it isn't much and they certainly didn't come out like gangbusters. But after that first half, a lot of teams would have packed it up and started planning their vacations on the sideline. The Patriots kept fighting and very nearly pulled off a ridiculous upset. For a team that has been teetering on giving up on the season, that actually did show me a lot and makes me slightly think about them differently in the final two games of the season.