TEAM NOTES
• Patriots earn first kickoff weekend victory since 2020.
• Patriots recover two fumbles. The Bengals lost just two fumbles in 2023.
• Jerod Mayo earns first win as head coach.
• QB Jacoby Brissett makes second start as a Patriot.
• Rhamondre Stevenson goes over 100 yards.
• DeMario Douglas has streak of 15 games with a first down reception
• Fourth-round draft pick G Layden Robinson started at right guard.
THE PATRIOTS EARN FIRST KICKOFF WEEKEND VICTORY SINCE 2020
The Patriots earned their first kickoff weekend victory since a 21-11 victory over Miami at Gillette Stadium
on Sept. 13, 2020.
PATRIOTS OPEN AGAINST CINCINNATI FOR FOURTH TIME IN TEAM HISTORY
The Patriots opened the season against Cincinnati for the fourth time in team history and for the first time
since a 38-24 win against Cincinnati on Sept. 12, 2010 at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots are 2-2 in those
games.
ONE OF THE 2024 ROOKIES MAKES OPENING DAY STARTS
One of the 2024 draft picks was in the starting lineup with fourth-round pick G Layden Robinson starting
at right guard. Twenty-nine rookies have now started on opening day since 2000.
ROOKIES IN THE STARTING LINEUP SINCE 2000
2024 – G Layden Robinson (fourth-round)
2023 – CB Christian Gonzalez (first-round), OL Sidy Sow (fourth-round) and OL Atonio Mafi (fifth-round)
2022 – OL Cole Strange (first-round)
2021 – QB Mac Jones (first-round)
2020 – OL Mike Onwenu (sixth-round)
2018 - LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (fifth-round)
2016- OL Joe Thuney (third-round), WR Malcolm Mitchell (fourth-round) and OL Ted Karras (sixth-round)
2015 – DL Malcom Brown (first-round), OL Tre Jackson (fourth-round) and OL David Andrews (rookie FA)
2013 – WR Kenbrell Thompkins (rookie free agent)
2012 – DL Chandler Jones (first-round) and LB Dont'a Hightower (first-round)
2011 – OL Nate Solder (first-round) and DB Ras-I Dowling (second-round)
2010- DB Devin McCourty (first-round), TE Rob Gronkowski (second-round) and TE Aaron Hernandez (fourth-
round)
2008- LB Jerod Mayo (first-round)
2006 – OL Ryan O'Callaghan (fifth-round)
2005 -OL Logan Mankins (first-round)
2004 – DL Vince Wilfork (first-round) and TE Ben Watson (first-round)
2002- TE Daniel Graham (first-round)
2001 - DL Jace Sayler (rookie free agent)
THE PATRIOTS DID NOT COMMIT ANY TURNOVERS
The Patriots did not commit any turnovers in the win against Cincinnati. The Patriots had just one game in
2023 with zero turnovers, at New York Jets on Sept. 24 in a 15-10 win.
PATRIOTS FORCED AND RECOVERED TWO FUMBLES AGAINST CINCINNATI;
BENGALS HAD JUST TWO LOST FUMBLES IN 2023
The Patriots forced and recovered two fumbles against the Bengals, who lost just two fumbles in 2023. S
Kyle Dugger forced a fumble on TE Tanner Hudson at the 1-yard line that was recovered by CB Marcus Jones.
In the third quarter, LS Joe Cardona forced a fumble on a punt that was recovered S Jaylinn Hawkins. In
2023, Cincinnati had just two lost fumbles in 2023 with every other NFL team having at least five last season.
It was also tied for the fewest fumbles lost by a team in the Super Bowl era (also 2019 Saints, 2014 Vikings &
2002 Chiefs).
PATRIOTS HELD A 10-O LEAD AT HALFTIME AND WERE UP 13-7 AFTER THREE QUARTERS
The Patriots were in front of Cincinnati, 10-0, at halftime. In 2023, the Patriots held a halftime lead in five
games, going 4-1 in those games. The Patriots were in front, 13-7, after three quarters. In 2023, the Patriots
were 4-0 when leading heading into the fourth quarter.
PATRIOTS RUN FOR 170 YARDS ON THE GROUND
The Patriots ran for a combined 170 yards on the ground. 170 yards marks the most yards the Patriots ran
for since December 18, 2022, when they played at the Las Vegas Raiders, and ran for 206 yards.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
JEROD MAYO MAKES REGULAR SEASON DEBUT AS A HEAD COACH
Jerod Mayo coached in his first regular season game and joined Ron Meyer (1982), Raymond Berry (1984),
Dick MacPherson (1991) and Pete Carroll (1997) as the only Patriots coaches to earn a win in their first
regular season game with the 16-10 win over the Bengals.
MAYO JOINS ROBERT KRAFT WITH FIRST WINS AT BENGALS
Mayo earned his first regular season win with the 16-10 win at Cincinnati. He joins Robert Kraft in earning
their first regular season victories at Cincinnati. The Patriots gave Robert Kraft his first victory as Patriots
owner with a 31-28 win over the Bengals at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati on Sept. 18 in 1994.
JACOBY BRISSETT MAKES THIRD START AS A MEMBER OF THE PATRIOTS.
QB Jacoby Brissett made his third career start for the Patriots after making two starts in three games as a
rookie with New England in 2016. As a rookie, Brissett played in three games and made two starts – vs.
Houston on Sept. 22, 2016 and vs. Buffalo on Oct. 2, 2016. He led the Patriots to a 27-0 win in his first start
against the Texans.
BRISSETT BECOMES THE 30TH PLAYER TO HAVE TWO STINTS WITH THE PATRIOTS SINCE 2000
Brissett became the 30th player to have at least two stints with the Patriots since 2000 (on the active roster
with the Patriots for at least one game in each stint; on the active roster with another team for at least one
game in between). Brissett originally joined New England as a third-round draft pick in 2016 and played in
three games with two starts as a rookie. He was traded to Indianapolis at the end of training camp in 2016
and has also played with Miami, Cleveland and Washington before being re-signed with the Patriots this
past offseason.
BARINGER CONTINUES A STREAK
As a rookie in 2023, Baringer had at least one 50-yard punt in all 17 games, the longest single-season streak
in team history. The NFL record for the longest streak with at least one 50-yard punt since 1970 is 38 by
Shane Lechler (2007-10). He increased his streak to 18 games with a 56-yard punt in the second quarter.
STEVENSON GOES OVER 100 YARDS; MATCHES CAREER-HIGH IN ATTEMPTS
RB Rhamondre Stevenson had his fifth career 100-yard rushing performance after finishing with 25 carries
for 120 yards. The Patriots did not have a 100-yard rusher in 2023. It is the first 100-yard rushing
performance since Stevenson had 172 rushing yards at Las Vegas on Dec. 18, 2022. His 25 rushing attempts
matched his career high. He had 25 rushing attempts vs. Detroit on Oct. 9, 2022.
DEMARIO DOUGLAS CONTINUES STREAK TO 15 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A FIRST DOWN RECEPTION
DeMario Douglas had at least one receiving first down in each of his 14 games in 2023. The only other
Patriot since 1991 to start his NFL career with at least that many consecutive games with a catch for a first
down was Brandin Cooks (16 straight in 2017). Douglas increased that total to 15 with a 9-yard reception in
the first quarter on a third-and-8 situation for a first down.
DUGGER FORCES A FUMBLE AT THE 1-YARD LINE
S Kyle Dugger forced a fumble after a catch by TE Tanner Hudson at the 1-yard line that was recovered by CB
Marcus Jones and returned 17 yards to help prevent a score in the second quarter.
CARDONA FORCES FIRST CAREER FUMBLE
Team captain LS Joe Cardona forced a fumble on a third quarter punt that was recovered by S Jaylinn
Hawkins at the Cincinnati 24-yard line. The turnover helped lead to a 35-yard field goal by K Joey Slye.
SCHOOLER HAS CAREER-HIGH WITH 3 SPECIAL TEAMS TACKLES
S Brenden Schooler had a career-high 3 special teams tackles. He had five games with 2 special teams
tackles, most recently on Nov. 5, 2023 vs. Washington.
BENTLEY REACHES 10 TACKLES
LB Ja'Whaun Bentley finished with a team-leading 12 tackles for his 14th 10-plus tackle game. In 2023,
Bentley had three games with at least 10 tackles.
KEION WHITE RECORDS CAREER-HIGH WITH 2½ SACKS
DE Keion White sacked QB Joe Burrow for a loss of 4 yards in the first quarter on a second-down play in the
first quarter. In the second quarter, he combined with LB Ja'Whaun Bentley on a 5-yard sack of Burrow for a
on a third-and-3 situation in the second quarter to stop a drive. He dropped Burrow for a 2-yard loss on third
down in the fourth quarter. As a rookie in 2023, he recorded one sack when he dropped QB Tommy DeVito
for a 9-yard loss at the New York Giants on Nov. 28, 2023.
HASTY RETURNED SECOND HALF KICKOFF
RB JaMycal Hasty returned the second half kickoff 27 yards. It was his first kickoff return since Oct. 30, 2022
vs. Denver when he returned a kickoff 29 yards when he played for Jacksonville.
JONES WITH A KEY FOURTH-DOWN STOP
CB Jonathan Jones stopped the Bengals on a fourth-down attempt in the third quarter. Faced with a fourth-
and-three, QB Joe Burrow completed a pass to WR Andrei Iosivas but was stopped shot after a tackle by
Jones.
POLK RECORDS FIRST RECEPTION
2024 second-round draft pick WR Ja'Lynn Polk recorded his first NFL reception for a 6-yard gain from QB
Jacoby Brissett in the third quarter.
JOEY SLYE MAKES THREE FIELD GOALS
K Joey Slye finished with three field goals made on three attempts, coming from distances of 32, 35, and 37
yards.
LINEUP NOTES
NEW FACES
Of the 30 new players on the 2024 roster that were not on the opening day roster in 2023, 23 saw action
against the Bengals.
2024 draft picks – WR Ja'Lynn Polk, T Caedan Wallace, G Layden Robinson, CB Marcellas Dial Jr. and TE
Jaheim Bell.
Rookie Free agents –S Dell Pettus
Veteran free agents – CB Alex Austin, QB Jacoby Brissett, LB Christian Elliss, RB Antonio Gibson, RB JaMycal
Hasty, S Jaylinn Hawkins, DT Trysten Hill, TE Austin Hooper, G Michael Jordan, G/C Nick Leverett, LB
Raekwon McMillan (IR in 2023), T Chukwuma Okorafor, WR J.J. Osborn, DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr., K Joey Slye,
CB Marco Wilson and LB Oshane Ximines.
FOUR NEWLY ACQUIRED PATRIOTS PLAYERS WERE IN THE STARTING LINEUP
QB Jacoby Brissett, T Chukwuma Okorafor, G Layden Robinson and WR K.J. Osborn started on offense.
FIVE OF THE EIGHT 2024 DRAFT PICKS MADE THEIR NFL REGULAR SEASON DEBUT
Five of the eight of 2024 draft picks played in their first NFL game - WR Ja'Lynn Polk (second-round), T
Caedan Wallace (third-round), G Layden Robinson (fourth-round), CB Marcellas Dial Jr. (sixth-round) and TE
Jaheim Bell (seventh-round). Of that group, Robinson was in the starting lineup at left guard.
• G Michael Jordan started at left guard in place of the injured G Sidy Sow. It was Jordan's 30th career
start and first since Jan. 9, 2022 when he started at Tampa Bay at left guard when he played for
Carolina.
