Patriots @ Bengals - 8:30 p.m. MNF

By Adam Kiefaber

Quarterback: Every week the Bengals have had the advantage at the quarterback position. This week, Cincinnati will face one of the game’s best, Tom Brady, which is scary considering the Bengals’ defense the last two weeks. Brady is great and has won Super Bowls, but he has a great team - I believe that I’m being objective when I say this matchup is even. - EVEN

Running Back: Laurence Maroney has yet to have a better game in the NFL than he had in the 38-13 win over the Bengals last season. Maroney (right) rushed for 125 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns. This year he has yet to score a touchdown, so you have to think he is looking forward to playing the Bengals. Free agent addition Sammy Morris has played well and has two rushing touchdowns this year. As of right now, Rudi Johnson is out. Despite his slow start to the 2007 season, Rudi has been a consistent force in the Bengals’ rushing attack. Kenny Watson will start if Rudi can’t go and looked good last week against Seattle. The Bengals signed DeDe Dorsey earlier this week. Cincinnati fans would get pumped up real quick if Dorsey, who was a fan favorite during the 2006 preseason, would have breakout game like Maroney did last year, but as of right now the Patriots have the better backfield. Also, third-down back Kevin Faulk is another solid weapon. - ADVANTAGE PATS

Wide Receivers: Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are both in their primes and currently make up one of the best wide-receiver duos in the NFL. However, the Bengals need another optioin. Glenn Holt performed great in the Cleveland game and Skyler Green saw some action last week. Antonio Chatman should finally see the field this weekend. New England added Randy Moss in the offseason when it stole him from Oakland with a fourth-round pick. Wes Welker is playing well so far this year after being brought in from Miami. Ben Watson is a playmaker at tight end. With all that said - I would still take the Oregon State duo over the newly acquired Pats’ receivers – ADVANTAGE BENGALS

Offensive Line: Somehow the Patriots have plugged their line with Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal and Nick Kaczur. Light and Mankins are proven starters. While Bengal fans hope one of their expensive defensive ends will burn Kaczur. Offensive tackle Willie Anderson didn’t practice on Thursday, but is expected to start. It seems like Anderson’s foot injury will limit the vet’s practice time all season. Fellow OT Levi Jones could get his first start. Andrew Whitworth could start at OG if Stacy Andrews can’t go. However, Andrews did practice on Thursday, but had participated in a limited portion. Center Eric Ghiaciuc looks to finally start, which can only help. Although the Patriots line has led New England to a No.1 ranking in total offense - I still would pick Cincinnati’s depth over New England’s line – ADVANTAGE BENGALS

Defensive Line: The Patriots use a 3-4 and their defense is very solid to say the least. They are without defensive tackle Richard Seymour. However Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork and Jarvis Green have played well so far this season. On paper, I love the Bengals defensive line, but they have underachieved. That isn’t to say they couldn’t breakout and have a big game, but you have to go with New England at every defensive spot - ADVANTAGE PATS

Linebackers: For the fourth straight week Cincinnati’s linebacking core is far weaken than its opponents. It would be nice to see LB Dhani Jones have another solid performance. However, when you look at the Patriots linebackers you have to do a double take. I mean Junior Seau is a backup. Larry Izzo and Pierre Woods are other backups that could be able to start for Cincinnati right now. Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi (left), Adalius Thomas and Rosevelt Colvin all wouldn’t just be fan favorites if they played for Cincinnati, they would be Bengal legends. The Bengals could be getting starting middle linebacker Ahmad Brooks back this week. Funny how all the fans questioned Brooks readiness to be a starter in the NFL and now they think he is Cincinnati’s most important defender. Caleb Miller will likely miss this game due to an injury. Lemar Marshall and Landon Johnson should start and are solid. Dhani Jones should see some time. Bad news for Bengal fans, the Patriots have seven linebackers that are better than any single Bengal LB. Where is Odell? - ADVANTAGE PATS

Secondary: Cornerback Asante Samuel is one of the game’s best. Fellow corner Ellis Hobbs has really turned out to be a much better player than I thought he would. Safeties James Sanders and Eugene Wilson are solid. Secondary leader Rodney Harrison is serving a suspension. First-round pick Brandon Meriweather provides the depth. On paper, without Harrison, this secondary seems to be only average with the exception of Samuel. However, New England hasn’t had Harrison all year and it has given up an average of only 133 passing yards per game. The Bengals, on the other hand, have allowed an average of 257.7 passing yards per game. Safeties Dexter Jackson and Madieu Williams played great in the Baltimore game and have been solid in the other games. The problem has been at cornerback - Johnthan Joseph and Leon Hall have been getting burned play after play. Teams have been throwing away from Deltha O’Neal, who was supposed to be the team’s weakest corner after a suspect 2006 season. I really think this secondary could be good, but they haven’t showed any signs of that lately. It might take till midseason for John. Joe. to get back to his ‘06 speed. Hopefully Hall is learning something out there. – ADVANTAGE PATS

Special Teams: Shayne Graham seems to be getting better, but he still isn’t good on kickoffs. Glenn Holt is a good returner, but will need a short memory after what happened last week. I’m still waiting for Skyler Green to make a huge play on a punt return. New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski hasn’t been needed to kick many field goals. Punter Chris Hanson hasn’t been needed either and has only four punts this season. Wes Welker is a quick punt returner and Ellis Hobbs is extremely dangerous on kickoff returns. Hobbs is averaging 36.4 yards per kickoff return and already has an 108-yard TD return. That sounds like a disaster for a Cincinnati team that has struggled on its special teams coverage. Look for new addition CB Blue Adams, who was signed to help that problem. - ADVANTAGE PATS

OVERALL BREAKDOWN:

You can make an argument that the Patriots have better receivers or a better o-line than the Bengals. If you win that argument than Cincinnati doesn’t have a single advantage over New England.

Currently, New England has the #1 offense and the #1 defense in the NFL. In comparison, the Bengals rank #5 in offense and #29 defensively.

The Patriots seem unstoppable and the Bengals are desperate for a win.

FINAL SCORE: BENGALS 42, PATRIOTS 28
I’m sorry - I try to be objective, but it is impossible for me to do that. I will be attendance, as a fan, on Monday night and I’m not going there to see the Bengals lose. If the Bengals pull off this upset, it could change the entire attitude of the Bengals’ fan base. After the bye week, the schedule gets a little easier with Kansas City on the road, the Jets at home, Steelers at home (except this one) and then on the road against Buffalo. If the Bengals win or lose this game, they could easily win three of four in that stretch, but who knows they lost to the Browns. All I’m saying if the Bengals fall to 1-3 going into the bye, don’t believe the season is over. The Bengals will get Chris Perry back for the Jets game and Chris Henry back after the Buffalo game.