Patriots upset win over Bengals was led by significant positives on offense

The 2024 New England Patriots turned up with a huge performance, upsetting the Cincinnati Bengals, 16-10, at Cincinnati. Not much was expected here, but the team delivered superbly in their first post-Bill Belichick outing under new head Coach, Jerod Mayo.

The Pats’ defense capitalized on a Cincinnati offense that was a bit constrained due to the recent arrival of former hold-in, their spectacular receiver, Ja'Marr Chase. Regardless, even without its two top players last season (Christian Barmore and Matt Judon), the D came as advertised: solid.

Here, the focus is the four top offensive positives of the Patriots’ revamped offense. They included the quarterback, wide receivers, and the team’s best runner. In addition, two new offensive linemen performed surprisingly well upfront. All in all, it was a superb display.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett did what he had to do to win. He protected the ball, took what the Bengals’ defense gave him, and ran effectively when necessary. It was a solid game for the veteran, who signed as a free agent in the offseason.

If Drake Maye ultimately emerges as the starter this season, any win by Brissett prior will be money in the proverbial bank for the Patriots if they have any hope of a playoff berth. With Maye at the helm, they very well may.

Also delivering a solid if unspectacular performance was the much-maligned Patriots receiving
corps. No one receiver overshadowed Tyquan Thornton, Pop Douglas, and even rookie Ja'Lynn Polk caught what they needed to keep the chains moving. The Pats' receivers aren’t going to remind anyone of the Randy Moss era in Foxborough, but if they catch the catchable throws, they’ll do just fine. Against the Bengals, they did.

The 2 biggest pluses for the Patriots’ offense

Unsurprisingly, the Patriots' top offensive performer was their best player, running back Rhamondre Stevenson. Stevenson was his usual self (when healthy). He gained 120 yards, scored a touchdown, ground out tough yards, and broke a few bigger gainers.

The fourth-year man showed why his signing a contract extension was one of the best moves made by the team in the 2024 offseason. He looked every bit the part of the 1000-yard rusher he was in 2022. The Patriots, lacking depth at running back, need to keep Stevenson healthy to have a chance.

The other top positive on offense for the Patriots was highly unanticipated. It was the guard play. 26-year-old guard Michael Jordan, a five-year veteran and (maybe former?) depth player, was called up from the practice squad. The 6’6” guard showed NFL-caliber blocking against bull-rushes in pass protection and in the running game.

The other surprise was 2024 fourth-round draft pick Layden Robinson, who lined up at the right guard spot. Sidy Sow's injury sidelined him for the game, creating a solid opportunity for the rookie to show what he can contribute to the Patriots' offensive line.

He played guard against Cincinnati and showed he can play that position well against NFL first-teamers. Alongside right tackle (once again) Mike Onwenu. Robinson showed ability, determination, and grit, even more impressively, finishing plays until the whistle. Jordan and Robinson, along with the always dependable Onwenu and center David Andrews, have the making of 4/5s of a solid O-line. (If they only had a left tackle.)

Those are four surprising positives for the Patriots as they beat Cincinnati in their first game away under new Head Coach Jerod Mayo. Both the players and the coaches gave an impressive performance. All looked every bit the part of an NFL-capable team in their first real game of 2024.

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