The Patriots started their 2024 season off on a positive note with a stunning 16-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. To start the new year off with a road victory over a potential Super Bowl contender with a new coach, quarterback room and without your star linebacker in Matthew Judon after he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons was something not many expected.
While there’s still a lot of football left to be played, Julian Edelman believes a Week 1 win is good for the Patriots as they begin a new era of football at One Patriot Place.
“With the game that the Patriots played to come out Week 1 and have a big victory against a team they probably should’ve lost to, it’s great for that building. Because that coaching staff, Jerod Mayo, everything that this staff has been preaching to the team in organized team activities, minicamp, training camp,” the three-time Super Bowl champion said during an appearance on “The Herd With Colin Cowherd.” “Everything that they’d been preaching just showed that it worked.”
“That’s how you get guys to buy in. That’s how you get your confidence to grow bigger. That’s how you get guys to come in a little earlier because everything that they work hard on,” Edelman added. “They got some production out of it. They got a little taste of what it tastes like to win and be 1-0.”
A lot of things went right for the Patriots. Jacoby Brissett was solid, the defense made things difficult for Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow, and the offensive line played well enough — though they still have some kinks to work out.
After finishing last season 4-13 and parting ways with Bill Belichick, there were plenty of questions about how the Patriots would perform under new coach Jerod Mayo. They’ve heard all the negative attention the team has gotten, and it served as motivation in Week 1.
The Patriots now will try to carry that momentum into Week 2 when they welcome the Seattle Seahawks to Gillette Stadium for their home opener on Sunday.
