In September 2014, after a blowout loss at Kansas City, New England coach Bill Belichick repeatedly said to inquisitive reporters, “We’re on to Cincinnati.”
Belichick put the setback in the rearview mirror and refused to rehash it. The rest was history as the Patriots beat the Bengals and won 10 of their final 12 regular-season games before finishing as Super Bowl XLIX champions.
Eight years and three months later, after an embarrassing loss at Las Vegas, the Patriots are again on to Cincinnati. The Bengals are again road favorites. Will history repeat?
New England no longer has Tom Brady and the other elements of a title contender. The Patriots (7-7) are scrambling to make the playoffs now.