FOXBORO -- Notes from the Patriots' 35-17 victory over the Bengals Sunday, courtesy of the Patriots' P.R. department:
PATRIOTS 35, BENGALS 17: Perry's first impressions | Curran's Best and Worst | Gronk on Bengals: They're always baiting everyone
TEAM NOTES
-- With Dont'a Hightower's end-zone sack of Andy Dalton, the Patriots recorded safeties in consecutive games for the first time in team history. Last week in Cleveland, Browns QB Cody Kessler fumbled the ball out of the end zone for a safety.
-- The Patriots have now won 23 straight home games against non-divisional AFC opponents, dating back to 2008.
-- The Patriots are now an NFL-best 51-17 in October since the 2000 season, including 30-5 at home.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
-- Rob Gronkowski set a career high with 162 yards receiving. His previous best was 160 yards on Dec. 11, 2011, at Washington.
-- Gronkowski’s 38-yard reception in the third quarter moved him past Irving Fryar (5,726) into fourth place on the Patriots' all-time receiving list. He finished the game with 5,837 career receiving yards.
New England Patriots
-- Gronkowski finished with his 22nd career 100-yard game and is now tied with Jackie Smith for the third-most 100-yard games by an NFL tight end with 22, behind Kellen Winslow (24) and Tony Gonzalez (31).
-- Tom Brady became the fourth NFL quarterback to have at least 5,000 completions after completing 29 passes to reach 5,010. He trails Brett Favre (6,300), Peyton Manning (6,125) and Drew Brees (5,515).
-- Brady had his second consecutive 300-yard passing game after finishing with 376 yards against Cincinnati. He threw for 406 at Cleveland last week. It is the 14th time he has thrown for 300 yards in back-to-back weeks. The Patriots are 61-12 in games when Brady throws for 300 or more yards.
-- Brady's 73 300-yard-games are third in NFL history, behind Brees (99) and Manning (93).