The Patriots open at the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are led by QB Joe Burrow, who is healthy after a shady 2023 season, with two separate injuries. He started the season with a calf strain and later had a torn ligament in his wrist that kept him out for the last 7 games of the season. He is reported to be completely recovered from the injury and ready to start against the Pats.
Offense 3WR 1TE
| Starter | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |
| QB | Joe Burrow | Jake Browning Q | – | – |
| RB | Zack Moss | Chase Brown | Trayveon Williams | Chris Evans IR |
| WR | Ja’Marr Chase | Jermaine Burton | ||
| WR | Tee Higgins | Trenton Irwin | ||
| WR | Andrei Iosivas | Charlie Jones | – | – |
| TE | Mike Gesicki | Drew Sample | Tanner Hudson | Erick All |
| LT | Orlando Brown | |||
| LG | Cordell Volson | Jaxson Kirkland | ||
| C | Ted Karras | Matt Lee | ||
| RG | Alex Cappa | Cody Ford | – | |
| RT | Trent Brown | Amarius Mims Q | D’Ante Smith IR |
When healthy, Burrow is expected to throw for over 4,000+ yards, 30+ TDs and nearly 70% completion rate. Jake Browning did a remarkable job as Burrow’s replacement and the team has tremendous confidence in him should he be called upon again. However, there are some concerns that Burrow isn’t 100% healed from the wrist injury. He played only one series in the 1st Preseason game.
The Bengals lost Wide Receiver Tyler Boyd to Free Agency. However, Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins still remain. Chase has been “holding in”, wanting a new contract after just fulfilling 2 years of a 4-year contract. He is listed as limited for Sunday’s game. He did not practice on Monday but returned Wednesday and Thursday. Expect him to play on Sunday. Higgins is no slouch and had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with 74 catches in each before Burrows injury. At 6’4”, he is a big target that can get deep. Higgins showed up on the injury list as limited because of a hamstring. Andre Iosivas the Princeton product is another big receiver at 6’3”. He ran a 4.43 40 at the combine in 2023 and appears as the #3 on the depth chart. Charlie Jones stands 5’11” and is quick as a cat, running a 4.43 40 at the combine and 6.84 3-cone drill at his Pro-Day. There were Pre-Draft questions surrounding Jermaine Burton. A report from Paul Dehner of The Athletic indicates that Burton has been a major disappointment thus far. “Cincinnati did run into issues getting Burton on board and up to professional standards quickly,” Dehner writes. And then it gets worse for Burton, who many expected to play extensively as a rookie in Cincinnati.
“The Bengals won’t put him out there — or even make him active on gameday — until they feel comfortable he’s preparing in meetings, will be in the right spots and can be trusted by the quarterback.” Burton, the former Alabama star was drafted in the 2024 3rd round (#80). He posted 4.45 40 at the combine.
Longtime stalwart running back Joe Mixon left via Free Agency. The Bengals signed RB Zach Moss to replace him. Last season Moss started 8 games for the Colts when he replaced the injured Jonathan Taylor. He ran for 794 yards and a 4.3 YPC and 5 TDs. Chase Brown is an exciting backup that may eventually replace Moss.
At Tight End former Patriot Mike Gesicki mans the position. Gesicki can catch but offers nothing in the run game, as he lacks run blocking ability. Rookie Eric All from Iowa is an exciting prospect but is listed as #4 on the depth chart.
The Bengals have Mrs. Brown’s Boys starting at Left and Right Tackle. They are the NFL’s version of the Twin Towers. Former Patriot enigma Trent Brown (6’8”, 370 pounds) signed as a Free Agent to start at Right Tackle. It’s trick or treat with Trent Brown and I am very interested in seeing the Keion White / Trent Brown matchup. The 6’8” 345-pound Orlando Brown (no relation) is a long-time starter in the league at Left Tackle. Entering his 7th season in the NFL the former Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chief, Brown was selected to 4 Pro-Bowls. Old friend Ted Karras (another player we should never have let go) is the starting Center. Karras enters his 9th season in the league after being drafted and developed by the Patriots in the 6th round of the 2016 draft. Alex Cappa came over from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Free Agency in 2022. He sustained an ankle injury in the final game of the 22’ season but rebounded last year to start all 17 games. The other starter at LG is Cordell Volson. The former North Dakota State grad was drafted in the 4th round of the 2002 draft. He was converted from OT to G and has started every game since being drafted. Amarius Mims was their 1st Round (#18) draft pick this year. The mammoth Left Tackle stands 6’8”, 340 pounds, and started on the back-to-back National Champion Georgia Bulldogs. Cincy may have hit it big with 7th round pick (#237) Matt Lee out of Miami. Lee plays Center and will eventually replace the 31-year-old Ted Karras. By every account, Lee had a fantastic Training Camp and performed well in Preseason games.
Defense Base 4-3
| Starter | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |
| LDE | Sam Hubbard Q | KJ Henry | Cedric Johnson | Myles Murphy IR |
| LDT | Sheldon Rankins | Jay Tufele | McKinnley Jackson | |
| RDT | B. J. Hill | Zach Carter | Kris Jenkins Jr | |
| RDE | Trey Hendrickson | Joseph Ossai | – | |
| WLB | Logan Wilson | Joe Bachie | Maema Njongmeta | |
| MLB | Germaine Pratt | |||
| SLB | Akeem Davis-Gaither | – | – | – |
| LCB | Cam Taylor-Britt | Josh Newton | ||
| SS | Vonn Bell | Jordan Battle | – | – |
| FS | Geno Stone | Tycen Anderson | Daijahn Anthony | |
| RCB | Dax Hill | DJ Turner | DJ Ivey O | |
| NB | Mike Hilton | Dax Hill | ||
The Bengals defense fell to the #26th ranked defense last year. The loss of Joe Burrows wasn’t the reason they missed the playoffs, it was the porous Defense. They were in shootouts in every game and were particularly susceptible to the run.
The loss of DT DJ Reader is a big blow to the Cincy run defense. This from Sportsnaut.com Matt Johnson “Up front, however, the Bengals defensive line is aging quickly with regression clearly catching up to the starters. Unless Myles Murphy (on IR) and Kris Jenkins step up in unexpected ways, this will likely be one of the worst defenses in the AFC this season”. The Bengals gave up the league worst 4.9 yards per carry. They signed DT Sheldon Rankins in the off-season, but I don’t think he will be enough to stem the tide of poor run defense.
Three-time Pro-Bowler DE Trey Hendrickson is a force in the pass rush.
Matt Johnson goes on to say “There’s hope for a young Cincinnati Bengals secondary. Dax Hill is making a strong impression at cornerback and working with Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner II, there’s more reason for confidence in improvement from this group. Geno Stone will provide Cincinnati with playmaking, a nice complement to safeties Vonn Bell and Jordan Battle.
The Linebackers are another sore spot. Logan Wilson was ranked #55 and Germaine Pratt was #52 in 2023 by Pro Football Focus. Compare that to Jahlani Tavai of the Patriots at #4. Seldom used undersized linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither is the other backer. He is slightly over 6’1”, 228 pounds, that’s smaller than Patriots Safety Kyle Dugger. Last season he played in 13 games but started only one game and had 17 tackles for the season.
Special Teams
| Starter | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |
| PK | Evan McPherson | – | – | – |
| P | Ryan Rehkow | Brad Robbins IR | – | – |
| H | Ryan Rehkow | – | – | – |
| PR | Charlie Jones | Trenton Irwin | – | – |
| KR | Chase Brown | Trayveon Williams | Charlie Jones | |
| LS | Cal Adomitis |
Placekicker Evan McPherson had a down year, converting 26 of 31 Field Goals for the 21st Rank in FG %.
Brad Robbins was the worst punter in the league last year and is on IR. He has been replaced by former BYU Cougar Ryan Rehkow. After the draft, Rehkow was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an UDFA. He was released in June and signed with Cincinnati in July. As a senior at BYU, he had a 48.6 average per punt. Rehkow will be a real unknown until we actually see him in a real game.
Charlie Jones is a waterbug out there. He finished 8th in the league for Punt Return Average and had 1 return for a TD.
Chase Brown is listed as the #1 Kickoff returner. We are all entering a new world with the revised Kickoff rules. The new rules are meant to add in more kickoff returns to the game.
Longsnapper position is manned by third year player Cal Adomitis. He won the Patrick Mannelly award as the best Long Snapper in college and named 1st Team All-American in 2021.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
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Nice article. On the bengals offense, if you look at the table above, there’s no backup offensive tackle for CIN. Mims is now listed “Out” and the other guy D’Ante Smith was recently put on IR. CIN will probably be pulling guys off the practice squad as bodies. An injury to Trent Brown or Orlando Brown would be a big deal in this game. Also, given Tee Higgins just popped his hamstring in practice Thursday and is doubtful, chances are he’s out. He’s listed doubtful. That said, I think there will be significant pressure that Chase will be forced to… Read more »