New England Patriots links 9/10/24 - Pats reveal identity: Smart, disciplined, physical

“Overreaction Monday” is an NFL phrase to keep in mind, especially after the first game of the season. For the teams that won, all is good. Nothing but blue skies and trophies on the horizon. The losing fans either make excuses and dismiss the loss or hop on the doom cycle — Much like my hubby declaring “game over” in the first quarter after the Pats’ first punt of the game. Every Sunday.

I’ve found the coverage of the Patriots Week 1 win to be bi-polar. The local beat writers are happy with the way the Pats played, touting the smart game plan; the disciplined, almost penalty-free performance, and a physical ‘bully-ball’ mentality as positive forces that led them to victory. Jerod Mayo’s decision to run with Jacoby Brissett over the rookie appears to be the correct one too, and he’s been given props for that. No overreaction here.

In contrast, the national media has focused on the game from a Bengals-losing perspective. The Patriots didn’t win so much as the Bengals lost. And the excuses are legion. Ja’Marr Chase’s lack of preseason play, Tee Higgins’ injury, turnovers, not enough possessions for the Bengals offense, etc... Plenty of overreaction, but with confidence this game was a fluke —and the Patriots hardly even mentioned.

Both approaches can work to the Patriots advantage. Turns out, the all-around preseason disrespect was an effective motivational tool and will serve the team well. The locals aren’t getting ahead of anything, taking one game at a time. That helps with managing expectations. The Patriots performance in the coming weeks will determine the rest.

TEAM TALK

• Evan Lazar’s After Further Review: Breaking down Jacoby Brissett, the run game and the Patriots defense from Week 1. Can the Pats carry it forward?
• Mike Dussault explains how the defense tamed the Bengals.The Pats D opened the season with a statement game that included a little of everything.
• Mike Dussault tackles this week’s Patriots Mailbag: Is Pats winning formula sustainable and where can they grow?
• Press Conferences: Jerod Mayo - Mike Onwenu, Joe Cardona, and Jahlani Tavai.
• WEEI Patriots Monday: Jerod Mayo (24 min. video) - Jacoby Brissett (12 min. video)
• Inside the Locker Room: Patriots celebrate win over the Bengals. (1.48 min. video)
• Best Game Photos: Patriots at Bengals.

LOCAL LINKS

• Taylor Kyles’ Week 1 Film Room: How Rhamondre Stevenson and Patriots OL bullied the Bengals. /Good read.
• Andrew Callahan’s Patriots-Bengals film review: Inside the Pats’ biggest upset in 8 years. “Score one for Jerod Mayo. For the new-era Patriots. And for the old-school Patriot Way. That gritty, calculated, bruising, clever, doubt-us-if-you-dare, underdog brand of football that birthed a dynasty.”
• Phil Perry tells us what we learned in Pats-Bengals: Brissett’s toughness buys Maye more time.
• Mark Morse shares his Pats-Bengals observations. “I really enjoyed watching this Patriots game! The Patriots did what they wanted to do and came away with an upset win.” /Me too.
• Justin Leger issues his Week 1 Patriots Report Card: Run game, secondary ace first test of season.
• Steve Balestrieri hands out the Week 1 Patriots-Bengals grades: Quarterback: C+. ‘Brissett didn’t light it up, completing 15-24 passes for just 120 yards, no touchdowns, but, most importantly, no interceptions. He showed good toughness hanging in the pocket and made a couple of first downs with his legs’. More.
• Darren Hartwell gives us his Week 1 Stock Watch: Stevenson a stud; Okorafor benched early.
• Tom E. Curran emphasizes how Jacoby Brissett brings an ‘invaluable’ element to Pats offense.
• Alex Barth notes that after the Week 1 switch, the left tackle competition will continue.
• Doug Kyed highlights Jerod Mayo on his decision to bench starting LT Chukwuma Okorafor.
• Tom E. Curran notes that the Pats got off to an excellent start in trying to form an identity under Jerod Mayo.
• Doug Kyed finds Jerod Mayo is not afraid to give away his team’s future offensive game plans. “I said we’re going to run the ball. It’s not a secret.”
• Karen Guregian sees disrespect fueling the Patriots, who took great pleasure in proving the naysayers wrong.
• Nick O’Malley notes Jerod Mayo shut down radio host calling for Drake Maye: “It’s about Jacoby.”
• Doug Kyed writes the Patriots believe they found a steal in rookie right guard Layden Robinson.
• Lauren Campbell notes Jacoby Brissett said that Hunter Henry ‘for sure’ will be rewarded for taking away what would have been an INT on Sunday.
• Nick Goss points out how Keion White’s huge game, and stellar performance is very encouraging for the defense.
• Matt Geagan reports the NFL is making Keion White take “random” drug test one day after his big game.
• Sara Marshall says the pre-season concerns about Christian Gonzalez are laughable after his Week 1 masterpiece.
• Karen Guregian spotlights long snapper Joe Cardona putting on a tackling clinic vs. the Bengals.
• Sara Marshall is hearing the excuses continue to roll out of Cincinnati after their shocking loss.
• Dan Kelley spotlights six Pro Bowl possibilities for New England.
• Trev Reporteraport (X) Anyway here’s Keion White turning Trent Brown into a traffic cone. /LOL.
• Pats Procrastination podcast: Clare and Chudders break down the Patriots win vs the Bengals. (35 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Jeffri Chadiha (NFL.com) The First Read: Biggest surprises from Week 1; Who’s up/down entering Week 2? 1. The Bengals losing to New England.
• Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) One thing we learned about each team in Week 1. Patriots: ‘The Bill Belichick defense remains. Or should we say Jerod Mayo defense? Either way, the new coach deserves props for his unit bottling up Joe Burrow and Co. No one anticipated a Week 1 win for this group’.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) Week 1 grades for every team. Patriots: A, Bengals F.
• Sheil Kapadia (The Ringer) NFL Week 1 Under Review: The Bengals don’t need to panic yet. /So many excuses.
• Jay Busbee (Yahoo! Sports) Asked & Answered: Steelers, Bengals have QB questions; Is the entire state of Ohio headed for football apocalypse? More.
• Dan Pizzuta (The33rdTeam) 1st & 10: Week 1 - Josh Allen, Bills played it safe; The kickoff was dynamic; More.
• Marcus Mosher (The33rdTeam) The NFL’s biggest winners, losers from Week 1.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Jacoby Brissett: Jerod Mayo preached that people in this room are what matter.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Jerod Mayo: Offensive line concern has been overblown.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Joe Burrow falls to 1-8 in Week 1, Week 2 games.
• Reice Shipley (Awful Announcing) The NFL Live ‘curse’ makes its season debut with Patriots upset win over Bengals. “Thought it was a lock.”
• Baldy’s Breakdowns (X) Kyle Dugger with a TD saving “punch out”. Popping the Bengals balloon and Marcus Jones scooping it up off of 1 hop. They still play great D in New England. (1 min. video)
• Baldy’s Breakdowns (X) Keion White with key plays all day starting on the 2nd play of the season. Takes most DL a year to figure it out. Keion is Koming. (1.30 min. video)

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Brendon Kleen (Awful Announcing) Bill Belichick backs up Tom Brady’s constant criticism of Cowboys, Browns ‘going backward’ on Sunday. “He must have said I don’t how many times in the Dallas-Cleveland game, Dallas keeps going backward, they keep losing too many yards. Well that’s the truth.”
• Matt Vautour notes Tom Brady on TV wasn’t bad, but he needs a lot of work.
• Scott McLaughlin says Tom Brady kept his attention on the field, not himself in uneven broadcast debut.
• Arthur Weinstein (Awful Announcing) Bill Belichick wants ‘right situation’ for potential NFL coaching role.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Footage emerges of initial interaction between police and Tyreek Hill. “So it’s possible that Hill didn’t handle the situation in an ideal way, and that the police went too far in dragging him out of the car and handcuffing him.” /’bout sums it up.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL has no comment about new Deshaun Watson lawsuit.