Patriots Defense, Running Game Keys To Potential Week 2 Win: Patch Patriots Roundup

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The New England Patriots are 1-0 after beating a Cincinnati Bengals team that many think will be a contender in 2024.

Head Coach Jerod Mayo's recipe for success is good old-fashioned football: Run the ball, play great defense, shorten the game.

The Patriots leaned heavily on running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who was more than up to the task in Week 1, going over 100 yards with a touchdown and three catches out of the backfield.

Now, the team faces a Seattle Seahawks team led by Geno Smith and first-year head coach Mike McDonald, the architect of a 2023 Baltimore Ravens defense that was the best in the National Football League.

New England will take a subtle jab at its Week 2 opponent by having Super Bowl XLIX hero Malcolm Butler in the house ahead of the 1 p.m. kickoff. Butler famously intercepted Russell Wilson at the end of the game in what many say is the defining moment in the crumbling of the "Legion of Boom" Seahawks.

Questions Answered, Unanswered

Ahead of Week 1, we published three questions that could define the season for the Patriots, but also for Patriots fans.

When Drake Maye sees the field was the obvious first question, and that'll likely be a slow burn, at least for now.

However, there were some early signs about the other two questions against Cincinnati.

The team clearly feels great about fourth-round guard Layden Robinson, who created a good bit of hype after Week 1 within the team's run-heavy scheme.

Mayo told the media on Monday that the organization believes Robinson has the chance to be "a special player in this league."

Landing a guard in the fourth round that can be a stalwart for a franchise is a massive key to building up a roster, and if Robinson ascends it can go a long way for Maye once he does get on the field.

As for the pass catchers the young signal caller will eventually be throwing to, the jury is very much still out.

Veteran tight end Austin Hooper led the team in yards with 31. Tyquan Thornton was second with only 27. Now, this is largely because the team prioritized the run, with Stevenson chewing up 120 on the ground, with the team running for 170 total.

A lack of clarity on the potential of the pass catchers may be by design at this point, as it's clear the team will prioritize a ground-and-pound approach and hope the defense can not only hold up, but generate turnovers and positive field position.

How To Catch The Game

• Kickoff: 1 p.m.
• Network: Fox
• Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub