Patriots inactives list for Week 1 game against Bengals
The first game of the New England Patriots 2024 season is finally upon us, as they matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
It is the first game of the Jerod Mayo era. Bill Belichick's tenure in Foxboro came to a shocking end earlier this year, thrusting the former linebacker into the spotlight almost immediately. How he has handled head coaching duties thus far has garnered a lot of attention and mixed reactions, and the Patriots' Week 1 matchup will surely follow suit.
Because of injuries and contract drama, the newly considered underdogs (who are not favored for a single game this year) could shock the NFL world by stealing a win against the perennial Super Bowl contender.
Some might say it's wishful thinking, but any team being down multiple starters, especially game-changing wide receivers, is always a benefit for the opponent's defense, and the Patriots plan to continue their defensive dominance this year.
There will be a lot of eyes on this game, and hopefully, the Patriots can look like an improved and competitive team, especially on offense. They'll have some hurdles to overcome, mainly due to their injured players, but there's a bit of optimism that they could silence some doubters with their performance.
Full inactives list for Patriots in Week 1
- G Sidy Sow
- QB Joe Milton III (emergency third QB)
- WR Javon Baker
- OT Demontrey Jacobs
- G Zach Thomas
- LB Curtis Jacobs
- DT Eric Johnson
Because the Patriots offensive line is probably the most concerning heading into the first game of the year, it's not ideal for starting guard Sidy Sow to be sidelined with an ankle injury. However, the more problematic situation is Jerod Mayo's struggles in finding the right o-line group in the days leading to Sunday's matchup.
It was a consistent experiment throughout the summer, and Sow was one of the better players in the group, so his absence could take a significant toll on Jacoby Brissett's performance.
Full inactives list for Bengals in Week 1
- WR Tee Higgins
- WR Kendric Pryor
- DE Cedric Johnson
- OT Amarius Mims
- TE Tanner McLachlan
- DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
One of the most intriguing storylines of the Patriots 2024 season opener is going to be the state of the Bengals offense without Tee Higgins in the lineup.
Joe Burrow being down one of his top pass catcher is certainly not a favorable position for the quarterback, nor does it bode well for Cincinnati to start the year strong with a dominating win.
While their chances of beating the Patriots are still high, New England's defense is getting a big swing in their favor, and they do not have to worry about one of the best receivers in the league during this game. They'll have to shift their focus to the players stepping up in their place, but it's unlikely they'll replace the likely production the duo would've added to the game.
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