Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots: Can Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase Lead Bengals to Victory Against New England's Defense?

The New England Patriots open their 2024 regular season schedule with a road trip to Paycor Stadium on Sunday to take on the Cincinnati Bengals. The Patriots are hoping to get off to a good start after a dismal 4-13 finish to the 2023 season. A new era for the Patriots has officially begun as they enter their first game without Bill Belichick on the sideline for the first time in 24 years. The team parted ways with the legendary coach back in January and hired Jerod Mayo as the new head coach in New England.

It would be a powerful statement for the first-year head coach to lead the Patriots to an upset win over the Bengals in the season opener. Granted, he’ll have his work cut out for him in beating a Bengals team with a returning Joe Burrow on the road. However, crazier things have happened in Week 1 openers, and the Patriots are hoping to add to that list by pulling off a shocking upset win over a likely playoff-contending team.

What to Watch For

The Bengals have a lot of firepower on offense, with Burrow at the helm and Ja’Marr Chase returning from a contract holdout. If Chase is healthy and ready to go, it will be tough for the Patriots to contain him and Burrow. The Bengals' offense ranked a ghastly 31st overall last season, but a healthy Burrow could be the catalyst to transform them into a threat in the AFC.

The Patriots' defense was the seventh-ranked defense in the league last season, but their roster is depleted and they are trotting out a starting quarterback in Jacoby Brissett who has gone 1-2 against Cincinnati in his career. Despite all the attention on rookie quarterback Drake Maye, it is veteran Jacoby Brissett who will get the start for the Patriots in Week 1. Can the Patriots’ defense stifle the Bengals' offense and allow Brissett to make enough plays to secure a win?

The Key Matchup

The key matchup in this game will be the Bengals' offense against the Patriots' defense. The Bengals have the potential to be a high-scoring offense, but the Patriots' defense is also capable of shutting down even the most potent offenses. It will be interesting to see how this matchup plays out.

Game Details

Kickoff: Sunday, September 8, 1:00 p.m. ET## Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH## TV: CBS## Live Stream: Paramount+, NFL+

Where to Watch

You can watch the game on TV via CBS, or stream it on Paramount+ or NFL+. Fans can also watch the game for free by signing up for fuboTV or DirecTV Stream, which both have free trials.

The Last Time These Two Teams Met

The two teams last met in 2022, with the Bengals emerging victorious. The Bengals’ defense was able to force three turnovers, including a pick-six from the Patriots’ quarterback. The Bengals won 22-18, and Burrow threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns.

The Latest Odds

The Bengals are 7.5-point favorites in the latest Bengals vs. Patriots odds via SportsLine consensus, and the over/under for total points scored is 40.5. The model is picking Cincinnati to cover the spread. The Patriots had the upper hand in this matchup for years, but now New England's roster is depleted and the Patriots are trotting out a starting quarterback who has gone 1-2 against Cincinnati in his career.

The Big Question

Can the Patriots' defense shut down the Bengals' offense and pull off an upset win? Or will the Bengals' firepower be too much for the Patriots to handle?

The Final Word

This game is going to be a close one. The Bengals have the potential to be a high-scoring offense, but the Patriots' defense is also capable of shutting down even the most potent offenses. It will be interesting to see how this matchup plays out, and whether the Patriots can pull off an upset win in their first game under a new head coach.