The Patriots are on an eight-game win streak heading into Week 12. The team secured its first winning season since 2021 and is likely to finish with its best record since Tom Brady’s last year with the organization.
The Week 12 matchup is on the road against the Bengals, who are struggling with a 3-7 record. Ja’Marr Chase is suspended for this game, making this a weaker Cincinnati unit than usual.
New England is a 5.5-point favorite and -258 on the moneyline, while Cincinnati is +210 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at 51.5 points.
Here are my favorite player props for this Week 12 NFL game between the Patriots and Bengals.
Patriots vs. Bengals Best Prop Bets
Tee Higgins over 5.5 receptions (-125)
The Bengals will be without Chase in this matchup, making the offense far less potent. Tee Higgins will need to step up if Cincinnati expects to keep this game somewhat competitive.
The passing game is where to attack the Patriots, too. New England is below average in passing yards and passing touchdowns allowed this season. Meanwhile, the run defense is ranked No. 1 in yards and touchdowns.
The Bengals feature a pass-heavy offense anyway, so this works out for them. They’re attempting the second most passes in the NFL this season. Chase has been the main beneficiary to this, but Higgins will get a ton of targets with Chase out.
Drake Maye under 29.5 pass attempts (-104)
This might just be Drake Maye’s MVP season. He’s leading the league in passing yards (2,836) and completion percentage (71.9%). He’s also second in yards per attempt (8.9), trailing Sam Darnold.
The yards per attempt stat is key because it’s the reason why Maye isn’t throwing 35+ passes every week. He’s efficient, but he’s also not throwing check downs or flat routes every play. He’s willing to let the ball fly, paving way for big gains.
That’s a great skill to have in general, but it will work wonders against the Bengals. Cincinnati has the worst ranked defense in terms of yards and points. Its pass defense ranks 31st in yards and last in touchdowns. Maye should carve up this defense with ease, and do so on limited attempts.
Not only will he be generating big plays, but the Patriots should take a substantial lead, allowing the running back tandem of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson to take over.