The New England Patriots might have had this past weekend off, since they already won their Week 11 game against the Jets on Thursday night, but that doesn't mean that what happened on Sunday doesn't impact their upcoming matchups. In fact, one big moment is expected to directly impact their upcoming clash with the Bengals, which could completely alter their fate.
The perennial AFC North contender has been a game circled on the Patriots' calendar all season long, but especially since they continued their hot streak. Since so many doubters believed they'd had an easy schedule, a game against a team like the Bengals was thought to be a true litmus test for them, even with QB Joe Burrow sidelined with an injury.