Patriots Open With Shocker In Cincinnati
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CINCINNATI, OH – “On any given Sunday…” – John Facenda
“THAT’S…..why they play the game!” – Chris Berman
So little is expected from the 2024 Patriots. Some experts have the Patriots winning as few as two games this year. Las Vegas has the Patriots winning only four. A Globe article this morning cautioned all of you to prepare for a biblically bad season.
And yet…here are your woebegone Patriots, sitting at 1-0, after a stunning 16-10 win at Paycor Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the Queen City. In a game where the Cincinnati Bengals were expected to handle the Patriots with ease, the Patriots outplayed the homestanding Bengals for most of the game, forcing three turnovers and controlling the game with a terrific running attack.
Offensively, the Patriots were able to do the one thing which gave them the best chance to win. Rhamondre Stevenson finished with 120 yards rushing on 25 carries. Stevenson has been ordained as the offensive bell cow until the passing game finds its feet, and Stevenson came through big time on Sunday.
Corey Dillon, who played for both the Patriots and Bengals, got the nickname “Clock killin’ Corey Dillon” when he moved to Foxborough. In the fourth quarter, especially on the final drive of the game, Stevenson was every bit the equal of Dillon.
Needing two first downs to win the game, Stevenson rushed four times for 26 yards to seal the win. He rushed for nine yards on 2nd and 5, then ran for nine yards on 2nd and 7. Jacoby Brissett went into victory formation after that last run.
The Patriots played a mistake-free game. Stevenson had a fourth quarter fumble that was overturned on replay, but otherwise the Patriots were solid everywhere except the passing game. Defensively, the Patriots held Joe Burrow in check for most of the game and did not allow the Bengal rushing game to augment the passing attack.
The Patriot defense forced three fumbles, two of whom the Patriots recovered. One was a sure touchdown by Tanner Hudson where Kyle Dugger stripped him at the Patriot 2-yard line and Marcus Jones recovered the football out of the air. On the opening drive of the second half, the Patriots punted, but Charlie Jones was stripped of the punt return by Joe Cardona and Jaylinn Hawkins recovered. Joey Slye booted a 35-yard field goal to complete a double score making it 13-0 Patriots.
Stevenson scored the lone touchdown for the Patriots, on a 3-yard run off right tackle in the first quarter. The drive lasted 14 plays, covered 80 yards and took 7:20 off the clock. This was part of a strategy to keep Burrow on the bench, and for the most part it worked well.
Brissett helped his cause by rushing for 32 yards on 7 carries. The Patriots averaged 4.4 yards per carry as a team.
Brissett was 15 of 24 passing for 121 yards and a passer rating of 75.2. This sort of thing is just fine with Jerod Mayo and his coaching staff. Brissett was unspectacular yet did nothing to lose the game. He managed the game perfectly, and gave Drake Maye plenty to study and absorb as he waits on the bench for his turn to play.
Stevenson and K.J. Osborh each had three catches to lead the Patriots. Austin Hooper had 31 receiving yards, while Tyquan Thornton had 27 yards.
Burrow finished 21 of 29 passing for 164 yards and an 86 passer rating. JaMarr Chase led Cincinnati with 62 yards on six catches, which is remarkable given how explosive he can be. Eight different receivers caught at least one pass, but the Patriots were able to keep Cincinnati from getting into anything prolific in the passing game.
The Patriots will enjoy their home opener next week against Seattle. Being 1-0 instead of 0-1 is a pleasant surprise, and it may affect the mood and attitude of the home fans now expecting a win instead of hoping for a competitive game. Whatever the case, give the Patriots all the credit in the world for making Mayo a winner in his first ever game as Patriot head coach.
Dick MacPherson (1991) was the last Patriot rookie head coach to win his season opener. Let’s hope Mayo has a better first season than MacPherson had.
For now, the Patriots will enjoy as nice trip back home, and their fan base can now dream of perhaps a lot better season than they were expecting.
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