[BFritz]

I will have to disagree with ya there Fritz. I think that the Pats are improved from last year, and they were not too shabby then either, one win shy of the Super Bowl (where they would've likely won as well). I think that is the toughest game on the Bengals schedule. Not saying they can't win, but it will be very tough, and is probably the least likely game on their schedule for them to do so.

Fair enough, good argument.

However, the Bengals offense is high powered, and while the Pats D may still be like a rock, I believe they've lost a step, so they'd be a rock that can be outrun. Honestly, if you go to the Pats website, if a player is between 27 and 29, he's one of the younger dudes on the roster, and in the NFL, even between 27 and 29 is old. Our running game may struggle a bit against them, but I don't think they can cover us or stop us in the open field.

On offense, Moss is old and hasn't had a good year in three years or so, he's probably lost a step. Even if he hasn't, his best years in Minnesota were because Culpepper ran around, made time, and then just lobbed the ball deep to him and he'd run under it. New England doesn't play that kind of football, and I'm not even sure Brady could play that kind of football. Stallworth has never impressed me too much. If this was the Bengals of old who had no defense, then I might be a bit worried, but with the improvements on defense and corners like O'Neal, Joseph, and Hall, I'm not worried at all. Maroney is a solid back, but I don't think their line can get off the ball as quick or manover as well as they once could, plus we have some solid backers now in Brooks, Hartwell, Johnson, and Jeanty (just for starters).