The Patriots protection began quick and completed sturdy on Sunday, main the Pats to a season-opening win over the Cincinnati Bengals with a takeaway, a fourth-down cease and well timed performs that contained quarterback Joe Burrow, holding him to only 164 passing yards.
“They got here out on fireplace,” mentioned head coach Jerod Mayo of the D after the sport. “We challenged these guys. Everybody was speaking about Cincinnati’s offense and the way explosive they’re. They usually answered the decision… It was a complete unit.”
Ja’Whaun Bentley (team-leading 12 tackles, .5 sack), Kyle Dugger (pressured fumble), Jabrill Peppers and Christian Gonzalez have been the staff’s ironmen, taking part in each defensive snap, whereas Keion White (2.5 sacks) was the finisher.
The Patriots protection pressured the Bengals to go three-and-out on their first three possessions, setting the tone for the day and permitting their offense to collect an early lead.
“I feel we obtained to the second quarter earlier than they obtained a primary down,” mentioned Jacoby Brissett. “If we do this, we’ll be all proper. Hats off to our protection. They did a hell of a job. And I do know these guys. I do know the work that they put on this offseason as nicely. I am simply tremendous happy with the fellows.”
“I really feel like we put in a whole lot of work this offseason, and to have the ability to come out, and get the win for an away recreation the place everyone doubted us, it undoubtedly meant loads, however there’s a lot extra we will develop with,” admitted Gonzalez.”
There was a slight lull within the center quarters, because the Bengals began to seek out some success on the bottom. However that is when the Patriots protection’s knack for key performs kicked in.
A 13-play second-quarter drive established a rhythm for Cinci, however simply as they have been about to hit paydirt Dugger punched the ball out on the purpose line and Marcus Jones scooped it up off the bounce. A nine-play drive early within the third quarter was then snuffed out with a fourth down cease, led by the positive tackling of veteran Jonathan Jones.
Lastly, the Bengals broke by late within the third quarter with an 80-yard drive began with a 20-yard go interference penalty by Marco Wilson. The Bengals by no means confronted a 3rd down on the touchdown-scoring drive and appeared to have seized the sport’s momentum.
However the Patriots protection kicked again into gear, first holding Cinci to a area purpose after which forcing a three-and-out with New England clinging to a six-point lead and in want of a game-sealing cease.
With a key turnover and a handful of key stops, this recreation had a bit of of all the pieces from a sound Patriots protection that confirmed a summer season of bodily padded practices had them able to go from the outset.
They held Burrow’s Bengals to only 4-of-13 (36%) on third down and contained their new-look working assault to only 70 speeding yards, regardless of a reasonably conservative strategy by new defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington.
Covington despatched simply 4 rushers 77% of the dropbacks and performed 60% zone whereas having a 60-40 cut up between split-safety protection and single-high. Simply seven instances did the Patriots rush 5 or extra gamers. It was an analogous plan to the one utilized by the Patriots in 2022 towards Burrow.
Burrow accomplished 40-of-52 passes for 375 yards again then. He had related effectivity (21-of-29) in 2024 however nowhere close to the manufacturing. The largest distinction? Huge performs. In 2022, the Bengals had 5 20-yard-plus performs. This time round that they had only one, a 28-yard fourth-quarter throw to Ja’Marr Chase on a drive that was held to only three factors.
Regardless of the sturdy general efficiency, there shall be areas to enhance, most notably a 17.1% strain charge. The protection was well timed with their go rush, however they have been inconsistent. Covington has loads of room for a extra aggressive strategy that might pump up these strain stats, however ideally the protection will get extra strain than 11.1% when speeding a normal 4 gamers.
After dropping two huge go rush items this summer season, the Patriots protection confirmed towards the Bengals that they’ll nonetheless get the job completed with the gamers they’ve left. It was a staff effort that they’re going to have the ability to construct from.
“We do not actually care in regards to the exterior noise,” mentioned captain Jabrill Peppers. “We solely care about what the folks consider and suppose inside our constructing. We all know the work we put in day in and day trip, we all know the work the coaches put in day in and day trip, and we’re all right here for one frequent purpose, and that is to win. Folks can say no matter they wish to say, however they can not play on this league. You continue to obtained to place that soccer down and line up. That is our mindset — we go about enterprise the fitting method, put within the work, it means one thing to us, and I feel we did the job in all three phases at this time.”