Maroney leads Patriots past Bengals

CINCINNATI – Rookie running back Laurence Maroney got New England’s offense rolling like old times.

Maroney ran for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns Sunday, restoring balance to the Patriots’ off-keel offense and setting up a 38-13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals that had a familiar feel.

“Kind of like the Patriots you guys were used to seeing,” smiling quarterback Tom Brady said.

Only a week earlier, New England (3-1) was so pitiful on offense that Brady uncharacteristically waved his arms in frustration during a loss to Denver. The only time he lifted his arms Sunday was to signal another Patriots touchdown.

Maroney got the biggest ones.

Playing on the field where teammate Corey Dillon broke the single-game rushing record for Cincinnati in 2000, Maroney dodged and stiff-armed his way through the Bengals (3-1) on touchdown runs of 11 and 25 yards that set the tone.

“We knew coming in that the running game was going to play a major part in the game,” said Maroney, who had only 18 yards against Denver. “That was No. 1 on our list – get the running game going.”

He made three tacklers miss on his second scoring run, which put New England up 21-13 and allowed Brady to forget his frustrations and do what he does best – efficiently take a defense apart. He was 15 of 26 for 188 yards and a pair of touchdowns, setting up the Patriots’ highest-scoring game in two seasons.

“Yes, this is a statement game for us,” safety Rodney Harrison said. “It felt good to come in here and play Patriots football.”