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Patriots: Ranking the 2019 regular season opponents

By Patrick Morgan

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots makes a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots makes a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 16: Chris Hogan #15 of the New England Patriots evades the tackle of Derron Smith #31 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the game at Gillette Stadium on October 16, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 16: Chris Hogan #15 of the New England Patriots evades the tackle of Derron Smith #31 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the game at Gillette Stadium on October 16, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

7. Cincinnati Bengals (AWAY)

The Bengals bungled a surprising 4-1 start in 2018, going just 2-9 the rest of the way en route to a disappointing 6-10 record. A lot of the blame can be placed on the injury bug, which took down star players like Andy Dalton and A.J. Green when both were balling out for Cincinnati. Unfortunately for the team and its fans, this franchise just didn’t have the depth behind them to keep pace with other AFC contenders down the stretch.

Longtime coach Marvin Lewis came to an amicable split with the organization after the season ended, which seems like its best for both sides even if it’s way overdue. Former Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor now takes over the team as its new head coach, and the hiring has been met with mixed reactions around league circles.

Some say he deserves a lot of credit for molding Jared Goff into a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback. Others say he’s just a poor man’s Sean McVay who got this job solely because of that connection, and because McVay is the latest craze in the NFL these days.

Whatever ends up being the case, the Patriots shouldn’t have too big a problem going into Cincy and picking up a win. Of all New England’s non-divisional away games, this one feels like the easiest behind the Redskins game.

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