Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton (81) drops the ball on the ground after catching a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of the NFL preseason game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. / Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Cincinnati Bengals gave the AFC East-leading New England Patriots a scare, but couldn’t complete its fourth quarter comeback attempt.

The Cincinnati Bengals lost their fourth game in a row on Sunday to the New England Patriots. The final score was 26-20 in favor of the Patriots. Despite the loss, the game remained competitive throughout its duration, with the Bengals continuing to mount an unsuccessful final offensive push up to the game's final minute.

As Cincinnati has tumbled down the standings, Drake Maye’s MVP campaign has skyrocketed, and a porous Bengals defense should only help his case. That is, if the Patriots don’t allow for a letdown. Here’s what to watch for in Cincinnati:

Tracking the score and highlights from Sunday's Week 12 game between the New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals.

Week 12 delivers a sneaky-fun AFC matchup as the surging Patriots face a Bengals team missing key playmakers, but still highly fantasy-relevant. With Joe Burrow out and Ja’Marr Chase ruled out, several Cincinnati players get a boost in roles and opportunities.