It was the primary recreation within the post-Invoice Belichick period, and in line with the lots, the Cincinnati Bengals have been speculated to mop the ground with the Patriots. However New England ignored the skin noise, flipped the script and received its first recreation of the season below new head coach Jerod Mayo. It was the primary time the membership had received its season opener because the 2020 marketing campaign.
After the victory, Patriots gamers showered Mayo along with his first Gatorade bathtub, and proprietor Robert Kraft gave him a recreation ball within the locker room. Mayo is able to transfer on to the following recreation on the schedule, however that does not cease his gamers from being thrilled to get him his first victory.
“Winnings at all times is sweet,” defensive finish Keion White informed reporters after the win, per team-provided video. “However doing it for Mayo was one thing particular for positive.”
White added: “All of the onerous work we put in, the operating, the conditioning, the hills … we have been working onerous, and it is beginning to present as a result of we needed to dig deep at the moment whilst protection and are available in clutch within the fourth quarter.”
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The Patriots’ protection pressured two fumbles and sacked Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow 3 times within the win. Security Kyle Dugger punched the ball out of Tanner Hudson’s hand as he was driving towards the Cincinnati finish zone late within the first half. Dugger informed the media it was a “nice feeling” to see Mayo earn his first win and appears ahead to constructing on the success.
“Discovering a technique to win, that is what it is all about,” Dugger mentioned, per team-provided video. “Is probably not the prettiest. We do not essentially at all times understand how it’ll be, however discovering a technique to win is what good groups do, and that is what we hope to proceed to do.”
The protection held the Bengals to 13 first downs and 224 whole yards. Jacoby Brissett was strong on offense, finishing 15-of-24 passes for 121 yards and not using a turnover. The veteran quarterback directed an 80-yard drive within the first quarter, together with six first downs and capped by Rhamondre Stevenson’s three-yard landing run.
“Mayo acquired a recreation ball for positive,” Brissett informed reporters, per team-provided video. “His first one, which was deserved. I do not assume folks perceive the plan he put in place with us this week and the work that he foresaw for us to get so far. … The communication was clear, and we got here, and we executed that plan.”
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The Patriots will look to construct on their Week 1 victory once they host the Seattle Seahawks of their residence opener at Gillette Stadium subsequent Sunday.
