Pats make statement with victory

FOXBOROUGH – Mark it down. On Oct. 5, 2014, Tom Brady returned. And so did the New England Patriots.Buoyed by a first-possession touchdown drive – the first time they scored on their opening chance this season — that went 80 yards, the Patriots never looked back Sunday as they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 43-17, at Gillette Stadium.The win went a long way toward silencing the critics who had been hounding the Patriots all week after last Monday?s 41-14 thrashing at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. As bad as they looked in that nationally televised game, that?s how good they were in this one. The Patriots ran for 220 yards (with Stevan Ridley going for 113 and Shane Vereen chipping in with 90) and quarterback Tom Brady threw for 285 as well as two touchdowns. And after a week of hearing about how none of the receivers were getting open, Brady hit eight difference receivers, with tight ends Rob Gronkowski (6) and Tim Wright (5) playing a huge role, each with a TD catch.?(Last week) was a long week for everyone,” said Brady. “So it was good to get out to a good start this week.”The lop-sided loss led to reports of shouting matches between receiver Aaron Dobson and coaches, and there was even a story circulating Sunday that quarterback Brady was at odds with the coaching staff over his input in the office.?It?s unfortunate that people write and say that stuff, especially if it doesn?t come from me,” said Brady. “I have a great deal of love for everyone here, coaches and players.”But Brady, who has been off to one of the slowest starts of his career, led the Patriots downfield with an 80-yard drive right out of the gate, with the 10th play being a one-yard plunge by Stevan Ridley. On the drive, Brady surpassed 50,000 career passing yards. In addition, the Patriots rushed for more than 200 yards.?I?m a pretty lucky guy,” said Brady, regarding his milestone.After the Patriots were able to stall the Bengals on their opening drive (a missed field goal), the Patriots were at it again. This time it took six plays, and covered 58 yards, with Brady throwing six yards to Tim Wright for the score.Cincinnati finally got on the board with 4:36 to go in the second quarter, a 23-yard field goal by Mike Nugent to make the score 14-3.However, the Patriots were able to put two Stephen Gostkowski field goals on the board before the half ended, and the teams went into halftime with the Patriots up, 20-3.It looked as if the Bengals were making inroads in the third quarter when, after a Patriots penalty gave them good field position, Andy Dalton hooked up with receiver Mohamed Sunu on a 37-yard touchdown pass to make the score 20-10.However, the Patriots didn?t wilt. On their next possession, Brady hit Rob Gronkowski with a 16-yard scoring pass to make it 27-10. And on the ensuing kickoff, New England?s Brandon Bolden caused a fumble, which Kyle Arrington recovered and ran nine yards for the touchdown that made it 34-10.The Bengals got one back, however, when Dalton hit A.J. Green with a 17-yarder that passed the review muster.The Patriots answered that one with another Gostkowski field goal to take a 37-17 lead early in the fourth quarter, and the kicker added to it with 7:53 to go with another one (49 yards).Gostkowski hit one more, a 35-yarder, to make it 43-17.Coach Bill Belichick was quick to give credit to the players after the game.?This (win) is thanks to them,” he said. “We got great performances on both sides of the ball. We made a lot of plays against a good football team. And they rebounded after a short week, and after a disappointing loss last week. I can?t say enough about their resilience.”