New England Patriots vs Bengals Match Player Stats (Sep 8, 2024)

The New England Patriots shocked the NFL world with their 16-10 victory over Cincinnati in Week 1, proving that pregame odds mean nothing once the whistle blows. Here’s everything you need to know about one of the season’s most surprising results.

Quick Stats Summary

Game at a Glance:

• Patriots won 16-10 as +320 underdogs
• Rhamondre Stevenson: 120 rushing yards, 1 TD
• Joe Burrow: Just 164 passing yards, 0 TDs
• Turnover margin: Patriots +2 (zero giveaways, two takeaways)
• Time of possession: Patriots 34:03, Bengals 25:57
• Ryan Rehkow set NFL punting record: 64.5 yard average

What Were the Final Stats?

The Patriots defeated the Bengals 16-10 on September 8, 2024 at Paycor Stadium. New England dominated the ground game with 170 rushing yards while limiting Cincinnati to just 224 total yards. The Patriots controlled possession for over 34 minutes and won the turnover battle 2-0.

Game Overview and Betting Lines

The Setup

Game kicked off at 1:00 PM Eastern on a clear, 75-degree day in Cincinnati. Perfect football weather. The Bengals entered as massive eight-point favourites with a 79% win probability. Moneyline? Cincinnati -315, New England +320. Vegas basically said the Pats had no shot.

What Actually Happened

Jerod Mayo’s coaching debut went about as well as you could dream it up. His Patriots squad played smashmouth football and took advantage of every Bengal mistake.

Team Statistics Breakdown

Let’s start with the big picture before we get into who did what:

That possession time? That’s your ballgame right there. Cincinnati’s offence spent more time watching than playing.

Patriots Individual Performances

Offensive Production

The Patriots kept it simple. Run the ball, control the clock, don’t turn it over. And guess what? It worked perfectly.

Jacoby Brissett – Game Manager Supreme

Brissett’s stat line: 15/24, 121 yards, zero TDs, zero INTs. Not exactly lighting it up, but that 75.2 passer rating came with zero turnovers. That’s what mattered. He also scrambled 7 times for 32 yards when plays broke down.

The Ground Game

Stevenson absolutely wore down Cincinnati’s defence:

• 25 carries for 120 yards (4.8 per carry)
• 1 touchdown
• 3 catches for 6 yards

And here’s the thing – he fumbled once but New England recovered it. Even when they messed up, luck was on their side. Antonio Gibson chipped in seven carries for 18 yards, while Brissett’s scrambles kept drives alive.

Pass Catchers

Nobody went crazy in the passing game, and that’s fine:

• Austin Hooper led with 31 yards on 2 catches
• Tyquan Thornton grabbed 2 for 27
• K.J. Osborn had 3 receptions on 6 targets for 21 yards
• Rookie Ja’Lynn Polk caught his first NFL pass

The Pats spread it around to 7 different receivers. Keep the defence guessing.

Defensive Excellence

This is where New England really won the game.

The Keion White Show

White was an absolute monster:

• 2.5 sacks
• 3 QB hits
• 1 forced fumble
• 4 tackles

Burrow had no answer for him. Every time Cincinnati needed a big play, there was White in the backfield.

Team Defence

The defence forced 2 turnovers and held Cincinnati to 3.6 yards per play in the second half. That’s championship-level stuff.

Special Teams Impact

Joey Slye went three-for-three on field goals (32, 35, 37 yards) and nailed his extra point. In a game decided by 6 points? Huge.

But the real special teams hero was Joe Cardona. The long snapper forced a fumble on punt coverage that led directly to points. When’s the last time you saw a long snapper change a game?

Bengals Individual Statistics

Offensive Struggles

Cincinnati’s offence never got going. Simple as that.

Joe Burrow’s Rough Day

The numbers: 21/29, 164 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs. Sacked three times. Rating of 86.0. For a guy many consider elite? That’s… not great. The Patriots’ pass rush lived in his face all day.

Where Was the Run Game?

Get this – Cincinnati ran the ball just 16 times:

• Zack Moss: 9 for 44 yards and their only TD
• Burrow: 4 scrambles for 15 yards
• Chase Brown: 3 for 11 yards

Sixteen rushes when you’re only down by a touchdown most of the game? That’s abandoning your game plan.

Receiving Stats – Nobody Got Loose

Hudson’s fumble in the red zone? That killed their momentum completely. And Gesicki actually caught a TD that got overturned. One of those days for Cincinnati.

Defensive Stats – Couldn’t Stop the Run

Logan Wilson led with 10 tackles. Dax Hill had 8 tackles and Cincinnati’s only sack. But here’s the problem – they gave up 4.4 yards per carry and couldn’t get off the field on third down when it mattered.

The Bengals defence wasn’t terrible. They just couldn’t make the one or two extra plays needed to flip the game.

Special Teams: A Tale of Two Punters

Okay, this is wild. Rookie Ryan Rehkow had one of the best punting days in NFL history:

• 4 punts
• 64.5 yard average (NFL RECORD)
• 80-yard bomb (Bengals franchise record)

But Charlie Jones muffed a punt that New England recovered. So your punter sets records and your returner gifts the other team the ball. Can’t make this stuff up.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Feeling Each Other Out

Game started at 1 PM Eastern under perfect conditions. Both teams traded punts early. Then White got his first sack, and you could feel the momentum shifting. Score: 0-0

Second Quarter: Patriots Take Control

Stevenson punched in a 3-yard TD at 14:58. Beautiful drive – 10 plays, 64 yards, all on the ground. Then came the special teams magic. Cardona forced that fumble, and Slye made it 10-0 at halftime. Bengals fans were already nervous.

Third Quarter: Cincy Shows Life

The Bengals finally answered. Moss scored from 5 yards out early in the quarter. But that’s all they’d get. Slye added another field goal. Score: 13-7 Patriots

Fourth Quarter: Hanging On

Both teams traded field goals. The big moment? Dugger forced Hudson to fumble in the red zone with 10 minutes left. Game over. Final: 16-10

Key Storylines and Analysis

Ground and Pound Still Works

170 rushing yards to 70. That’s the game. New England ran it 39 times. Cincinnati? Just sixteen attempts. In today’s pass-happy NFL, the Patriots went old school and it worked perfectly.

Here’s the Thing About Turnovers…

They’re huge in a defensive battle. Cincinnati lost two fumbles. New England lost none. In a 6-point game, that’s literally the difference. The Pats showed exactly how to protect the football when it matters.

Pass Rush Won the Day

Three sacks might not sound like a lot. But the pressure was constant. Burrow never looked comfortable. He was getting rid of the ball quick, checking down, playing scared. That’s not the Burrow we usually see.

Want to see another game where defence dominated? Check out our breakdown of the Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats.

Special Teams Swung Everything

Rehkow’s punting was incredible. Honestly, any other day we’d be talking about his records. But when your punt returner coughs up the ball? None of it matters. Special teams can win you games or lose them. Cincinnati learned that the hard way.

Coaching Chess Match

Jerod Mayo’s Perfect Debut

Mayo kept it simple:

1. Run the ball down their throats
2. No turnovers. None. Zero.
3. Let the defence hunt
4. Win field position

That’s Football 101, and it worked beautifully. Sometimes the best game plan is the simplest one.

Where Zac Taylor Went Wrong

Sixteen rush attempts. I’ll say it again – SIXTEEN. You can’t abandon the run that early. And the special teams prep? Obviously lacking. These are the details that cost you close games.

Historical Context and Records

The Records Set

• Rehkow’s 64.5-yard average beat the old NFL record
• His 80-yarder was the longest punt in Bengals history
• Pats first Week 1 road upset since 2001

What It Means

This was Cincinnati’s worst home opener under Burrow. Just 224 total yards? Ten points? At home? Yikes.

For New England, it’s their best defensive performance in an opener since 2019. And doing it on the road makes it even sweeter.

Looking Ahead

Patriots’ Path Forward

Can they keep this up? Running for 170 every week won’t happen. They’ll need more from the passing game eventually. But this blueprint – defence, running game, no mistakes – can keep them in every game.

Cincinnati’s Wake-Up Call

They need fixes NOW:

• Better pass protection (three sacks is too many)
• Commit to the run game
• Fix the fumbling issues
• Special teams need a complete review

The talent’s there. The execution wasn’t. Big difference.

FAQs About New England Patriots vs Bengals Match Player Stats​

The Bottom Line

Week 1 served up a classic upset. The Patriots played complementary football – all three phases contributing to victory. The Bengals learned that no amount of talent can overcome turnovers and poor execution.

Those seeking high-scoring shootouts were disappointed. But for fans who appreciate defence, field position, and fundamental football? This was beautiful. New England showed that old-school football still wins games in 2024.

The numbers tell the whole story. Time of possession, rushing yards, turnovers – New England won every category that mattered. Sometimes football really is that simple.

Sources

1. ESPN NFL Coverage – Game statistics and live updates
2. NFL.com Official Stats – Official league statistics and records
3. Pro Football Reference – Historical context and advanced metrics
4. The Athletic – In-depth analysis and reporting
5. CBS Sports – Live scoring and expert commentary