The New England Patriots are 7-8 after a late comeback bid came up just short against the Cincinnati Bengals, who won by a 22-18 final. Here’s who we graded UP or DOWN based on their performance in this game…

UP: CB Marcus Jones

The rookie continues to emerge as a dynamic player for the Patriots – in all three phases.

On top of being a surefire star as a return man, he’s starting to make plays on defense, too. His pick-six against Joe Burrow gave the Patriots the spark they desperately needed to start their second-half comeback effort. Jones also turned a screen pass from behind the line of scrimmage into a 15-yard gain, which set the Pats up with first-and-10 from the 16-yard line and a chance to take a late lead.

Count Marcus as a hit on the draft board for the Patriots. One of the biggest positives to take away from what looks like a season out of the playoffs.

DOWN: RB Rhamondre Stevenson

The Patriots could taste that go-ahead touchdown with the clock in the final minute and the offense knocking on the doorstep. Instead, Stevenson coughed the ball up for a fumble that killed the comeback bid for good. There was controversy on the play because the officials didn’t whistle the play dead before the fumble, but they explained in a pool report that Stevenson’s legs weren’t wrapped up, and so they didn’t rule he was fully in the grasp of tacklers.

Stevenson himself took accountability after the game, telling reporters he tried to do too much and probably should’ve gone down and lived to see another play. It’s been a breakout year for the second-year back and he’ll be a key cog in the offense next season, but the endings in the last two weeks have been rough for him.

UP: WR Kendrick Bourne

Bourne’s lack of involvement in the Patriots offense will be one of the enduring mysteries of the 2022 season. Because when he’s heavily involved, good things happen. (This has been said multiple times before.) Bourne finished with six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown, and also took a jet sweep for a 29-yard gain in what was easily the Pats’ biggest offensive play of the game at the time.

If Bourne and Mac Jones are back in 2023, their connection should absolutely be prioritized in the passing game. They keep showing that they deserve it.

DOWN: K Nick Folk

Dec 24, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots place kicker Nick Folk (6) misses the extra point against the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Folk missed both of his extra point attempts in the game, and the second one proved especially costly. Instead of being down 22-19 and possibly able to play it more safe and go for a game-tying field goal, they were down four and had to score a touchdown, and obviously couldn’t execute that last drive.

It was a tough day for the kicking game on both teams, with temperatures in the teens and wind chills in the single digits, but Folk has not looked like the same player for an extended period of time now.

UP: LB Matthew Judon

If the Patriots ended up finishing off the comeback to upset the Bengals, Judon’s strip of wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase could have been viewed as the single biggest play of the game. Judon also had a sack and six total tackles. A huge boost for his chances of All-Pro recognition at the end of the season.

DOWN: OG Cole Strange

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 24: Cam Sample #96 of the Cincinnati Bengals sacks Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Strange allowed a sack and the Patriots’ interior protection was shaky for much of the game, particularly in the first half. Strange can take the bullet for the whole offensive line here, as the group couldn’t put it together until the second half. It’s been an up-and-down year for Strange, but that frankly should be expected when you have a rookie playing every snap.

UP: S Devin McCourty

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 24: Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots celebrates after his interception during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

McCourty made the first good play of the game with his second-quarter interception on Joe Burrow. It’s been a trying year for McCourty, whose NFL future is likely to be up in the air at the end of the season. But he deserves to get a nod for this one.

DOWN: TE Jonnu Smith

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 24: Akeem Davis-Gaither #59 of the Cincinnati Bengals tackles Jonnu Smith #81 of the New England Patriots during the second half of the game at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Nick Grace/Getty Images)

Smith gets a DOWN in this game for getting his own teammate injured. Hunter Henry had to leave the game in the first quarter with a knee injury and didn’t return, after a play in which Smith collided with him without looking. Some fault is due to the Patriots’ poor coordination on offense for the collision. But beyond that, Smith played nearly every snap after that and still made just three catches for 21 uninspired yards.

Still unable to make things happen for himself in the offense, Smith is on track to be cut for financial purposes next summer, and to go down as one of the most disappointing free agent signings in Patriots history.

Next edition of Patriots Ups & Downs comes after they play the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium in Week 17. Click here for complete New England Patriots coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.