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The New England Patriots will open the season this Sunday when they travel to play the Cincinnati Bengals. It will mark the fourth time in team history that the Patriots will open the season against Cincinnati (1972, 2001 and 2010) and the first time since a 38-24 Patriots victory on Sept. 12, 2010 at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots last opened at Cincinnati in 1972, a 31-7 Bengals win. Robert Kraft's first regular season victory as Patriots owner came at Cincinnati on Sept. 18, 1994, when the Patriots defeated the Bengals, 31-28, at Riverfront Stadium.

PATRIOTS VS. BENGALS IN SEASON OPENERS

The Patriots will be opening the season against the Cincinnati Bengals for the fourth time in team history and the first time since a 38-24 win on Sept. 12, 2010 at Gillette Stadium.

SERIES HISTORY

The New England Patriots will open the season against the Cincinnati Bengals for the fourth time in team history (1972, 2001 and 2010) and for the first time since a 38-24 Patriots victory on Sept. 12, 2010. The Patriots last opened the season at Cincinnati in 1972, a 31-7 Bengals win.

The two teams last met on Dec. 24, 2022, when the Bengals pulled out a narrow 22-18 victory at Gillette Stadium. It was their first win at Gillette Stadium in five contests. The last time the Patriots played at Cincinnati was on Dec. 15, 2019, a 34-13 New England victory.

This week's game will be the 28th meeting between the two teams. New England leads the all-time series by a 17-10 margin in a series that dates back to 1968. The Patriots have emerged victorious in seven of the last 10 meetings.

While New England is 10-3 all-time at home against Cincinnati, including 4-1 at Gillette Stadium, the series is tied at 7-7 in games played at Cincinnati. However, the Patriots are in front, 3-2, at Paul Brown Stadium/Paycor Stadium.

SCOUTING THE MATCHUPS

By Paul Perillo

When the Patriots run - Edge: Bengals

This will be a huge key for the Patriots under first-year offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Running the football has been a priority for Van Pelt, and other than a promising first half against the Commanders in the preseason finale the production has been lacking all summer. That was especially true on the practice field as Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson had trouble finding creases in the defense. Stevenson figures to be the lead dog on early downs but Gibson has shown the ability to perform well in Van Pelt's zone running schemes and should get this share of carries as well. The good news is the Bengals struggled to stop the run a year ago, finishing tied for 26^th allowing 136.3 yards per game and 23^rd at 4.4 yards per carry. Cincinnati brought in Sheldon Rankins to help shore up the front and he will join B.J. Hill at defensive tackle in front of talented linebackers Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt. The Bengals figure to be improved in that area but the Patriots will still try to establish Stevenson between the tackles to take some heat off Jacoby Brissett and the patchwork offensive line.

When the Patriots pass - Edge: Bengals

Speaking of Brissett and that patchwork offensive line, the Bengals might not be the best pass rush to go against in Week 1. Edge rushers Trey Hendrickson (17.5) and Sam Hubbard (6) combined for 23.5 of Cincy's 44 sacks a year ago. Hendrickson missed time during camp while attempting to get a contract extension, but he figures to be in the lineup. That's not great news for the Patriots tackles, the identity of whom as of the close of the preseason was still unclear. Free agent addition Chuks Okorafor spent time at left tackle despite playing almost exclusively on the right side during his career. Mike Onwenu moved from right guard to right tackle late in camp while rookie guard Layden Robinson was inserted into the lineup. Vederian Lowe and Sidy Sow manned left tackle and left guard for roughly two weeks before Lowe went down with an oblique injury and Sow injured his ankle against Washington. Only David Andrews appears to be a sure thing at center as game week progresses. Jerod Mayo said he expects some rotation up front early in the season so Brissett will need to get the ball out quickly with DeMario Douglas, Tyquan Thornton, K.J. Osborn and rookie Ja'Lynn Polk the top options at wideout. Tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper will be big parts of the passing game as well, but Henry is coming off an injury and just recently returned to the practice field.

When the Bengals run - Edge: Patriots

The Bengals had one of the league's worst rushing attacks in 2023, averaging just 89.8 yards per game to rank 31^st. That was one reason Cincy dealt the aging Joe Mixon to the Texans and turned the backfield over to Zack Moss, Chase Brown and Trayveon Williams. Moss and Brown will add much more speed to speed to the mix, although Mixon's ability to perform as a receiver will need to be replaced. The Bengals offensive line suffered a blow as rookie right tackle Armarius Mims strained his pectoral muscle and will miss the opener. He'll be replaced by Trent Brown while Orlando Brown mans the left tackle spot. Another former Patriot, Ted Karras, holds down the middle at center in between guards Alex Cappa and Cordell Volson. The Patriots run defense was stout a year ago and showed little signs of slipping this summer. Davon Godchaux is back in the middle with second-year man Keion White and Jeremiah Pharms joining him up front. Jahlani Tavai and Ja'Whaun Bentley are solid run stuffers at linebacker and that group was solid in camp and should be able to contain the Bengals new-look attack.

When the Bengals pass - Edge: Bengals

For the first time in three years Joe Burrow is healthy heading into the start of the regular season. After dealing with the effects of a torn ACL (2021), a training camp appendectomy (2022) and a calf strain (2023), Burrow had no limitations from the wrist surgery that ended his campaign early a year ago. But it's not all rosy in the passing game for the Bengals as top wideout Ja'Marr Chase missed all of camp while seeking an extension and has yet to take part in any full 11-on-11 work. Head coach Zac Taylor said he expects Chase to play in the opener but later indicated he may have spoken too soon when Chase again was in street clothes the following day. Burrow still has Tee Higgins and intriguing slot option Andrei Iosivas, who replaces veteran Tyler Boyd, at his disposal. Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones project as the Patriots corners with the three-man safety rotation of Jabrill Peppers, Kyle Dugger and Jaylinn Hawkins possessing plenty of versatility. The Bengals like Mike Gesicki, another former Patriot, as an option in the slot at tight end as well. If Chase is active and able to knock off the rust, this will be a difficult opening week matchup for the Patriots secondary.

Special Teams - Edge: Patriots

The 2023 season was not a good one for the Patriots special teams. Penalties, coverage lapses and missed field goals dominated the so-called third phase for New England, and not surprisingly some changes were made. At the forefront of that was the arrival of Joey Slye, who beat out second-year kicker Chad Ryland with a strong summer. Another change comes in the form of leadership as the Patriots lost the services of legend Matthew Slater, who retired. Brenden Schooler ostensibly takes his place at the forefront of the coverage units, but it will be next to impossible to replace the professionalism Slater provided. Punter Bryce Baringer is back after a solid rookie season and an even better summer, particularly on his plus-50 kicks. The return roles will likely be filled by the dangerous Marcus Jones, who could benefit from the new kickoff rules if he manages to find space in the initial wall. The Bengals counter with Evan McPherson, one of the better kickers in the game, but have untested rookie Ryan Rehkow handling the punting. Charlie Jones took a punt back 81 yards for a touchdown last year and averaged almost 11 yards per return while Trayveon Williams handles kicks. The Patriots had a strong summer in the return department and hope that translates to the regular season.

TALE OF THE TAPE

CONNECTIONS

FORMER BENGALS

• Off. Coord. Alex Van Pelt, 2018-19
• TE Coach Bob Bicknell, 2018-20
• G Michael Jordan, 2019-20
• TE Mitchell Wilcox, 2020-23

FORMER PATRIOTS

• CB Mike Hilton, 2018-19
• C Ted Karras, 2018-20
• OT Trent Brown, 2019-20
• TE Mike Gesicki, 2020-23
• DL Coach Marion Hobby 1990-92

OPENING DAY OUTLOOK

• The Patriots are 35-29 on opening day and will be looking for their first opening day win since 2020 when they opened the year with a 21-11 win vs. Miami on Sept. 13.
• The Patriots are 12-14 on opening day on the road.
• The Patriots have 28 players on the 53-man roster that were not on the 53-man roster on opening day of the 2023 season. Of that group, LB Raekwon McMillan was with the team, but on injured reserve, and DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. was on the practice squad.
• Since 2000, the Patriots have had three punt or kick returns for touchdowns on opening day. The last came in 2010 when Brandon Tate returned a kickoff for 97 yards vs. Cincinnati on Sept. 12, 2010 in a 38-24 Patriots win.

PATRIOTS DEFENSE ON OPENING DAY

• Since 2000, the Patriots have had 1 defensive touchdown on opening day. The one time they accomplished this feat came in 2010 when Gary Guy intercepted Carson Palmer and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown, which paved the way to a 38-24 Patriots win vs. Cincinnati on Sept. 12.
• The Patriots have had three players with 2 interceptions on opening day with the last being CB Terrell Buckley with 2 picks on Sept. 9, 2002 vs. Pittsburgh. The others were DB Ronnie Lippett on Sept. 9, 1990 vs. Miami and DB Dick Felt on Sept. 8, 1963 vs. the New York Jets.
• The Patriots have had a player register 3 sacks in an opening day game three times, including one game with two players reaching 3 sacks. LB Don Blackmon recorded 3 sacks vs. Indianapolis on Sept. 7, 1986. Blackmon and LB Andre Tippett both recorded 3 sacks on opening day in 1985 vs. Green Bay on Sept. 8.
• Since 2000, the Patriots' defense has collected 3 interceptions three times on opening day. The last time they were able to achieve this was in 2020 vs. Miami on Sept. 13 when Adrian Phillips, Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson all had an interception in a 21-11 Patriots win.

OPENING DAY OFFENSIVE NOTES BY POSITION:

• QB: The Patriots, who have had a 300-yard passer on opening day 10 times, will be looking to have a 300-yard passer on opening day for the second-straight season. QB Mac Jones threw for 316 yards in the 2023 season opener vs. Philadelphia on Sept. 10. The last time the Patriots had a 300-yard passer in back-to-back opening days was in 2004 and 2005 when Tom Brady threw for 335 yards vs. Indianapolis in the 2004 opener and then 306 yards vs. Oakland in the 2005 opener.
• RB: The Patriots have had a player reach 100-yards rushing on opening day seven times. If they have a 100-yard rusher against the Bengals, it will be the first on opening day since 2021 when RB Damien Harris finished with 100 yards on 23 carries vs. Miami on Sept.
  12, 2021.
• WR: The Patriots have had a 100-yard receiver on opening day 21 times. If the Patriots have 100-yard receiver against the Bengals, it will be their first 100-yard receiver on opening day since TE Rob Gronkowski, who caught 7 passes for 123 yards vs. Houston on Sept. 9, 2018. The Patriots had two players reach 100-yards receiving in an opening day game two times – Sept. 12, 2011 at Miami and Sept. 7, 1986 vs. Indianapolis.

PATRIOTS ROOKIES

• Of the 28 new players on the 53-man roster, 10 of those players are rookies, including all eight of the 2024 draft picks, rookie free agent S Dell Pettus and one rookie free agent that was claimed off waivers – LB Curtis Jacobs (Kansas City).
• All eight members of New England's 2024 draft class made the 53-man roster, the first time that has happened since all seven members of the 2013 draft class made the 53-man
  roster.
• Rookie free agent S Dell Pettus from Troy made the 53-man roster, and LB Curtis Jacobs is on the 53-man roster after being claimed off waivers after originally joining Kansas City as a rookie free agent out of Penn State. In 2023, the Patriots ended a streak of 19 straight seasons with a rookie free agent making the 53-man roster

ROOKIES IN THE STARTING LINEUP

Three 2023 draft picks were in the starting lineup on opening day with first-round pick Christian Gonzalez starting at cornerback, fourth-round pick G Sidy Sow starting at right guard and fifth-round pick OL Atonio Mafi starting at left guard. Twenty-eight rookies have now started on opening day since 2000. Gonzalez and Sow (2023), Cole Strange (2022), Mike Onwenu (2020), Ja'Whaun Bentley (2018) and David Andrews (2015) are the current Patriots to start in their first game.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR...

HEAD COACH JEROD MAYO

• Jerod Mayo will coach in his first regular season game and look to join 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.
• The Patriots have two players on the current roster that were teammates with Head Coach Jerod Mayo during his final season with the Patriots in 2015 - C David Andrews and LS Joe Cardona. The only other current NFL coach that was teammates with two of his current players is Houston's DeMeco Ryans, who was teammates with S Kareem Jackson and C Jon Weeks in 2011 with Houston and then served as their head coach in 2023.

QUARTERBACK JACOBY BRISSETT

• QB Jacoby Brissett will become the 30th player since 2000 to have at least two stints with New England (on the roster with the Patriots for at least one game in each stint and on the active roster with another team for at least one game in between).
• Brissett originally joined New England as third-round draft pick in 2016 and then played with Indianapolis, Miami, Cleveland and Washington before being re-signed this past offseason. He made two starts as a rookie in 2016 with New England, including leading the Patriots to a 27-0 victory vs. Houston on Sept. 22.

BROADCAST INFO

TELEVISION: This week's game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4. Ian Eagle will handle play-by-play duties with Charles Davis as the color analyst. Evan Washburn will provide updates from the sidelines. The game will be produced by Mark Wolff and directed by Suzanne Smith.

NATIONAL RADIO: This week's game will be broadcast to a national audience by Sports USA. John Ahlers will call the game with James White providing analysis.

LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. A complete listing of the network's 33 stations can be found here. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. The games are produced by Marc Cappello.

For information on how to stream the game please visit our Ways to Watch guide.