The Patriots appeared to be the tougher, better conditioned football team during Sunday’s season-opening win against the Bengals.
New England overcame its lack of star power and delivered a close, gritty victory.
After the game, coach Jerod Mayo revealed that some of the Patriots players were yelling “take them to the hill” on the sideline during the fourth quarter.
The phrase is a nod to the conditioning work that Mayo had them do after practice during training camp, running up a hill near the Gillette Stadium practice field.
On Wednesday, Mayo added a little more context about the hill during his press conference.