W2L4: How Bengals Get Off On The Right Foot And Beat Patriots In 2024 Opener

Patriots (4-13 in 2023, missed playoffs) at Bengals (9-8 in 2023, missed playoffs) Sunday, Sept. 8 at Paycor Stadium (Field Turf CORE), 1 p.m. ET, TV: Ch. 12 CBS-WKRC-TV (Cincinnati) Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn. Radio: Dan Hoard, Dave Lapham. WEBN-FM (102.7 FM), ESPN1530

CINCINNATI – The Bengals have great expectations and a high level of uncertainty while the New England Patriots enter the unknown of a new era as the two teams open the 2024 season Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati.

In his first action since a season-ending wrist injury last November in Baltimore and subsequent surgery, Joe Burrow played the first series of the preseason and didn’t play in a game again.

He completed 5-of-7 passes for 51 yards, including a 10-yard score to Tee Higgins in a 17-14 loss to Tampa Bay. He didn’t play again, instead getting his work in through a pair of joint practices against the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts. And now Burrow, who recovered from a ACL injury in 2020, believes he’s ready to go for Week 1.

“I feel like I’m healthy. I feel like I’m physically strong and I’ll be able to go out and do what I need to do,” Burrow said. “Whenever you have those kinds of injuries it’s a process throughout the season, just like with the knee. You’re going to have some days where you feel good and some days where you don’t, and you’re going to get better throughout the season.”

A return of Burrow to form would bode well for Cincinnati’s Super Bowl chances. In a five-game stretch before his season-ending injury, Burrow led the league in completion percentage (74.1), ranked second in completions (146), second in passer rating (107.0), third in TD passes (12) as the Bengals went 4-1.

While Burrow feels near full strength after a full offseason of rehab and preparation for the first time in his career, the same cannot be said for other key pieces on the roster. Tee Higgins is doubtful with a hamstring “tweak” suffered on Thursday. Amarius Mims was limited on Wednesday and Thursday and was a DNP Friday and is out for Week 1 with a pectoral strain. Kris Jenkins Jr. is out with surgery coming up on his injured thumb. Zac Taylor indicated that playing by Week 2 or 3.

And then there’s Ja’Marr Chase.

But most of the Super Bowl predictions for Cincinnati center around not only Joe Burrow back at full strength but star receiver Chase being on the field.

Wednesday, Chase returned to practice and was limited. He also practiced Thursday and Friday and appears ready to play 40-50 snaps Sunday but that will be “his call” as he informed reporters Friday.

Clearly, Chase believes he’s in control of his own destiny when it comes to playing. His return could signal a willingness to play in Sunday’s opener, depending on his readiness after not participating at all in training camp and the preseason.

“He’s going to go out and play really well, I know that,” Burrow said of Chase. “We’ll see for Sunday. I don’t have any expectations right now what that’s going to look like. I know if he’s out there what type of player he’s going to be.”

Chase’s “hold-in” has centered around a demand for a new contract extension similar to that of former LSU teammate and Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson, who received a four-year, $140 million extension with $110 million in guaranteed money on June 3.

The Patriots are entering a new era, as for the first time since 1999, Bill Belichick will not be on the sideline coaching the team. After winning six Super Bowls and reaching three others, the Patriots are rebuilding with new coach Jerod Mayo.

Coming off a 4-13 season, the Patriots chose quarterback Drake Maye third overall in the draft. He played for a majority of the preseason but it’s veteran Jacoby Brissett getting the start in the opener against the Bengals.

The key for the Patriots under Mayo will be winning in the trenches, starting with running back Rhamondre Stevenson, entering his fourth season out of Oklahoma.

“I think we have to go out there and really be able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. I think we need to play well on special teams as well, but it’s about the line of scrimmage,” Mayo said. “It’s about controlling the line of scrimmage and controlling the game.

“They have a high-powered team. They have a high-powered offense, and I think the defense is aggressive because they know they have a high-powered offense.”

Here’s what to look for:

• When the Bengals have the ball:

Will Ja’Marr Chase be on the field? How much will he play? What will Joe Burrow look like after taking just one series in preseason? Who replaces Tee Higgins if he doesn’t play? Where does Mike Gesicki fit in? How many snaps will Trent Brown play at right tackle? The Bengals need to answer all of these questions on offense. The Bengals will rely on Andrei Iosivas and Chase Brown to kick start their offense with energy. Zack Moss could also play a huge role in the running game and in pass protection. Before there’s excitement over all the new weapons and new look to the offense with Dan Pitcher, the Burrow needs to know who he can rely on. The Patriots didn’t do a lot right in 2023, losing 13 games. But their defense was solid to terrific at times, and that was with first round corner Christian Gonzalez going down midway through his rookie season. Bill Belichick may be gone but Jerod Mayo is there as head coach and he will want to test the Bengals offensive line and see if there are vulnerabilities there.

• When the Patriots have the ball:

Make no mistake, the Patriots are going to punch the Bengals in the mouth with their running game, behind Rhamondre Stevenson, the fourth year back out of Oklahoma. He was on the verge of punching in the game-winning touchdown on Christmas Eve in Foxboro in 2022 before Vonn Bell knocked the ball out. The Bengals won 22-18 after leading at the half, 22-0. The Bengals can’t afford that kind of sloppiness in this game against a team with a lot to prove for its new coach. Every priority will be and should be placed on putting the game in the hands of Jacoby Brissett, who did not look sharp in the preseason. The Patriots went with Brissett because of the high level of uncertainty on their offensive line. They didn’t want third overall pick Drake Maye getting his brains beaten in right away. Dictating this game comes down to B.J. Hill and Sheldon Rankins doing their jobs in the middle of the line, with Zach Carter and Jay Tufele as backups. Joseph Ossai, rookie Cedric Johnson and K.J. Henry back up Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. If the Bengals win the battle in the trenches, they win the game.

• Bottom Line:

The last time the Patriots came to Cincinnati, it was camera-gate in the press box, where Patriots staffers (Patriots/Kraft TV production crew) were caught taping the Bengals sideline the week before in Cleveland. The Bengals kept it close at the half, trailing 13-10. They were outscored 21-3 in the second half. Jerod Mayo has talked a lot about handling the aggressive Bengals defense, winning the battle in the trenches and aiming to be the better conditioned team than their opponent this week. This is all code for the old “Patriot Way” under Bill Belichick. The Bengals simply need to play a clean game (no 11-penalty game like Chicago in the preseason) and take care of the football and talent and continuity should do the rest. Mayo’s Patriots are coming in with absolutely no expectations and the hope behind a 0-0 record. Chase Brown and Zack Moss will play a key role. Joe Burrow finds Ja’Marr Chase for 8 catches, 95 yards and 2 TD. A prove-it season begins in a winning, business-like fashion.

Bengals 27, Patriots 14