New England Patriots: Studs and duds vs. Bengals in Week 15

Stud: Sony Michel

Sony Michel led the running back group in the victory on the road for New England, leading the way for a group that ended up rushing for a total of 175 yards on the ground with one touchdown on a combined total of 32 rush attempts.

When it came to Michel specifically, the running back grabbed a team-best 89 yards on the ground with a team-high 19 carries. He was held without a rushing touchdown in the contest, but the fact that he was able to step up and lead the rushing attack was positive.

Now if New England could just get him and James White to simultaneously put together dominant performances in the backfield.

Dud: Tom Brady

Although he didn’t really need to step up in a way that we have been used to seeing out of him, Tom Brady was indeed a dud for New England in Cincinnati. Brady didn’t necessarily wow anyone en route to the win away from home that snapped the Patriots’ two-game losing streak. But when the defense is playing the way it did and is scoring on their end of the field, the quarterback isn’t forced to do it all on offense.

In the game, Brady finished with 128 yards through the air along with two touchdowns and no interceptions. The veteran quarterback converted on 15 of his overall 29 pass attempts in the game.