« 1st half analysis | Main | Johnson downgraded »

In-game notes

Some in-game notes courtesy of the Patriots' media relations department:

TOUCHDOWN FOR MIKE VRABEL
Linebacker Mike Vrabel caught his seventh regular-season touchdown pass and his ninth overall touchdown pass (including two in the playoffs) on a 1-yard scoring catch from Tom Brady in the first quarter that gave the Patriots a 10-0 lead. Each of Vrabel’s nine career receptions have been for touchdowns – including one in Super Bowl XXXVIII and one in Super Bowl XXXIX. The touchdown reception against Cincinnati was Vrabel’s first since Dec. 26, 2005, when he caught two scoring passes against the New York Jets. Like tonight, that game was also played on a Monday night. Including his one career interception return for a touchdown, Vrabel now has totaled eight career regular-season touchdowns – the fourth-highest total in a New England uniform by a current Patriot (trailing only Troy Brown, Kevin Faulk and Benjamin Watson). Vrabel is one of 60 players in Patriots history to score eight or more touchdowns in regular season play.

TOUCHDOWN FOR MOSS
Randy Moss scored his sixth touchdown of the season on a 7-yard reception from Tom Brady in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 17-7 lead. Moss’s sixth overall touchdown ties Plaxico Burress of the New York Giants for the 2007 NFL lead. Moss’s seven touchdown receptions this season are the most by a Patriot in a single-season since David Patten had seven in 2004. Moss, who has caught at least one touchdown in each of the Patriots’ four games this season, is the first Patriots player to catch a touchdown pass in four straight games since Daniel Graham tied the franchise record with a scoring catch in five straight games spanning the 2003 and 2004 seasons. His second-quarter touchdown gave Moss 107 career receiving touchdowns – a total that ranks fifth in NFL history.

INTERCEPTION FOR SAMUEL
Asante Samuel intercepted a Carson Palmer pass in the end zone in the final two minutes of the first half, recording his second interception of the season and the 18th interception of his regular-season career. Samuel has also totaled four playoff interceptions for New England. With his interception against the Bengals, Samuel has now recorded 11 interceptions in his last 13 regular-season and playoff games, dating back to a three-pick performance against Chicago on Nov. 26, 2006. Including the playoffs, Samuel has returned five of his 22 career interceptions for touchdowns.

FAULK MOVES INTO SEVENTH ON PATRIOTS’ CAREER RECEPTIONS LIST
Kevin Faulk passed Jim Colclough to move into seventh place on the Patriots’ all-time receptions list with his 23-yard catch on the Patriots’ second offensive play of the game. That catch was the 284th of Faulk’s career. Gino Cappelletti ranks sixth in Patriots history with 292 career receptions. Faulk is the Patriots’ all-time leader in receptions by a running back – Tony Collins ranks second with 261 career receptions.

MOSS CATCHES 700th CAREER PASS
Randy Moss recorded his 700th career reception on a 17-yard catch from Tom Brady in the first quarter. Moss became the 27th player in NFL history to pass the 700-catch plateau.

100th GAME FOR BRADY AND A. THOMAS
Tom Brady and Adalius Thomas both played in their 100th career regular season game tonight. Brady has played in 100 games with 98 starts since entering the NFL in 2000. Thomas has played in 100 games with 77 starts since entering the NFL in 2000.

FIRST SACK FOR ADALIUS THOMAS
Adalius Thomas recorded his first sack in a Patriots uniform when he dropped Carson Palmer for an 8-yard loss on third down in the first quarter. The play ended the Bengals’ first drive of the game by forcing a punt on the next play. Thomas’ sack raised his career total to 39.5. The sack also raised his total since 2004 to 29.0, a mark that ranks second among all NFL linebackers since 2004.

QUICK HITS