Stat of the day: Third down

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Offensively, with their 1-for-11 showing on third down today, the Bengals are 1 of 18 on third down in the past two games. The Patriots and Chiefs (7 for 16) are now a combined 14 for 28 converting third down plays in the past two games against the Cincinnati defense.

After the game, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said, "What I told our football team in there just now, I thought for the first time this football season we played like a football team in the second half of this game. And though we didn't come out and win this football game today, I thought we made some progress and some signs of a football team, not a bunch of individual guys."

Is it me, or does that sound a lot like Dick LeBeau trying to plug emotional holes as his 2002 team spriralized down to a 2-14 record?

In summary:

-- The Bengals have lost four in a row under Lewis for the first time in his 69 regular season games;

-- They have lost seven of their past eight and 12 of their past 18.