After defeating the Jets in their first matchup of the season, the New England Patriots turned their sights to their next opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals. When the schedule came out earlier this year, it certainly looked like a tough matchup, especially given its mid-November date.
But things have changed since QB Joe Burrow suffered an injury that has kept him sidelined for most of the year, and the Patriots now know they'll face veteran Joe Flacco instead. That hasn't been a massive decline for the Bengals just yet, but they might have just been dealt a worse hand with the latest news surrounding WR Ja'Marr Chase.
The wide receiver was involved in a scuffle with CB Jalen Ramsey on Sunday, when the Bengals and Steelers went head-to-head. It led to the cornerback's ejection, only for the video later to corroborate his claim that Chase had spit on him.
That has led the NFL to suspend Chase for one game, the upcoming matchup against the Patriots, as he indeed spit on Ramsey.
The NFL is suspending Bengals star WR Ja’Marr Chase one game for unsportsmanlike conduct after he was caught on video spitting on Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 17, 2025
Barring a successful appeal, Chase is now set to miss Sunday’s game vs. the Patriots. pic.twitter.com/D1rCUu1oFr
That means the Patriots' defense has now been given a massive opportunity to really make the Bengals' day a big more miserable, as they will be down one of the best receivers in the game this upcoming weekened.
Ja'Marr Chase made a big mistake that led to his suspension, which helps the Patriots a lot in Week 12
The last time these two teams played each other last season, Chase was also not on the field for the Patriots' first win of the year. It was an easy day for the defense, particularly CB Christian Gonzalez, and it looks like that will be the case again this time around.
It's another road game, just like last year, so it will be a hostile environment, and it won't be a walk in the park with a player like Flacco slinging the football and Tee Higgins still available.
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However, any team without its top receiver is going to be hurt regardless, so the Bengals not having Chase in the lineup will be a big hit to the offense's production against a very good Patriots' defense.
And that's not just their secondary that has been impressive. New England's defensive line has been among the best in the league through 11 games, so if the Bengals hope to rely on the run game in Chase's absence, they might need to think of another game plan.