SUNDAY’S GAME
Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) at New England Patriots (4-1), 1 p.m.
TV: Ch. 7, 12
Radio: 700-AM, 1530-AM, 102.7-FM, 104.7-FM
Brandon LaFell found himself phased out of the New England Patriots’ offense last year but seems to be finding his rhythm with Cincinnati just in time to help the Bengals against his former team.
The seventh-year veteran wide receiver caught his first two touchdown passes of the season in the Bengals’ 28-14 loss at Dallas on Sunday and finished with 68 yards on a season-high eight catches and 11 targets.
LaFell returns to New England’s Gillette Stadium on Sunday for the first time since his March release, as the Bengals try to get back to .500 after a 2-3 start.
“It’s too early in the season to say that [I’m in a rhythm], but 11 targets last week, I think that’s pretty good, and the catches,” LaFell said. “Hopefully we can continue to build on that and continue to connect more, and moreso in crucial moments of the game, not when the game is out of hand.”
LaFell’s two-year stint with the Patriots ended with a 2015 campaign that never seemed to get on track after he opened the season on the physically unable to perform list with a foot injury. He played in 11 games but was demoted to the No. 4 spot on the depth chart for the AFC Championship Game and wasn’t targeted at all in 33 snaps.
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It was a far fall from a career year in 2014 when he helped the Patriots to a Super Bowl ring with 953 yards and seven touchdowns for the season. The Bengals still saw some of that potential in him when scouting replacements for departed receivers Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu, and he’s quietly become what they needed opposite of A.J. Green.
“He plays receiver physically, with his body,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “He’s a guy who continues to improve as he goes. Any time he gets an opportunity, he makes good on them. He’s a true pro, which is important. You saw him make catches using his body position, separation, and control last week.”
LaFell insists he is still working his way back to his full potential and the way he played in 2014, but quarterback Andy Dalton calls him a player he “can trust” to make plays.
As the only other veteran along with Green in the receiving corps, LaFell has made the transition to a new offense relatively smoothly. Wide receivers coach James Urban said it’s easy to have chemistry with LaFell because he does things “the right way” and “always knows what to do.”
He came through Sunday while the Cowboys shut off Green.
“It’s cyclical,” Urban said. “I tell (the receivers) on any given day, it could be any one of them. It just so happened it was his day (against Dallas), and he took advantage of it. That’s what we preach is taking advantage of your opportunities. Part of that is always being in the right spot. It puts you in a position where the opportunity does come your way and if the coverage dictates you can get the balls, you have to take advantage of it.”
With 276 yards on 21 catches and 32 targets, LaFell has slightly better numbers than last year’s No. 2 receiver, but offensive coordinator Ken Zampese said the production is no surprise given LaFell’s business-like approach. Through five games last year, Jones had 15 catches on 26 targets for 226 yards and two touchdowns.
The 29-year-old LaFell said he learned what it takes to succeed in New England, as well as from playing alongside Steve Smith in Carolina, where he began his career as a third-round draft pick in 2010. Smith taught him how to play smart, fast and physical, LaFell said, but being a receiver in a Tom Brady-led offense required a certain level of perfection. He’s tried to bring that to Cincinnati.
“That was one big thing that Brady was all big on, sticking, separating, so route technique — topping your route, separation — was one of things that I carried from over there,” said LaFell, who still keeps in touch with Brady.
Despite the severed ties to New England, LaFell said he isn’t any more motivated this week than others. This game isn’t about proving himself, but rather getting the team back on track. He will do whatever he can to help.
“I treat every week like it’s a big game,” LaFell said. “Especially the way we played last week, everybody’s got to come out and play big.”
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