The New England Patriots came into Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium as the biggest underdogs in the NFL. They left with a 1-0 record after beating the Bengals with a final score of 16-10.
Playing an opportunistic game on offense, defense and special teams, the team of first-year head coach Jerod Mayo jumped to an early lead. While Cincinnati did gain some momentum in the second half, New England remained in control and ultimately made enough plays to come away with the season-opening victory.
As a result, the Patriots are starting a season with a win for the first time since 2020.