Welcome to the Unconventional Review, an instant reaction to standouts, stats, and story lines from the Patriots’ most recent game …
CINCINNATI — For the Patriots, having the ball at the Bengals 1-yard line Sunday proved to be the longest yard.
On separate possessions, the Patriots needed 1 yard for a touchdown. Both times, they failed to convert — turning the ball over on downs on an 11-play, 89-yard drive that couldn’t quite get to 90 early in the third quarter; then settling for an Andy Borregales 19-yard field goal on a 13-play, 79-yard drive that couldn’t quite get to 80 early in the fourth.