A win in Week 1 may have set the bar a bit too high for the 2024 New England Patriots and head coach Jerod Mayo.
Mike Reiss of ESPN reported that the Patriots' 16-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the opening game "shifted expectations" despite a lackluster roster and put more "pressure" on the first-year head coach.
"Looking back, one high-ranking team official said the unexpected opening win shifted expectations when the roster was lacking enough talent to compete, putting more pressure on Mayo," Reiss wrote. "Nonetheless, players have noted how Mayo stayed the course throughout in the locker room.