The New England Patriots are 1-0 on the 2024 season after an upset win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Here are 12 players we graded either UP or DOWN based on their performance on the field…

UP: RB Rhamondre Stevenson

Stevenson could very well be the Patriots’ offensive MVP this season. The fourth-year pro led the way on the ground with 25 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown, and perhaps most importantly, rushed four times for 26 yards on the Pats’ final possession of the game to bleed the clock dry.

Over the course of the win, Stevenson showed off his best traits: power, balance, and sneaky elusiveness for a guy his size. He’s a good fit for this new offense, and the one-cut running style that is often called for on the ground. Stevenson made a lot of guys miss, in addition to running with his typical power.

To be fair, Stevenson did almost lose a fumble in what would’ve been a massive turn of events in the game. But he was able to recover his own fumble on the play. Overall, an outstanding start to what could be a big season for Stevenson.

DOWN: LT Chukwuma Okorafor

Okorafor didn’t even make it to the end of the first quarter before he was taken off the field, after starting the game at left tackle. The previously injured Vederian Lowe came in and didn’t play all that well, either. But it was a tough look for Okorafor to be abandoned so soon.

MORE: Patriots start season with upset win over Bengals

Left tackle remains the biggest concern for the Patriots, despite a great game for most of the roster. They may have to hope Lowe can be serviceable, because they’re pretty much out of options at the moment.

• UP: S Kyle Dugger

  Dugger kept momentum in the Patriots’ favor with an outstanding red zone series in the second quarter, when the Bengals were threatening for what would’ve been a game-tying touchdown at the time. First, Dugger got just enough of a hand on the ball to jar it loose from Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki, leading to an overturned touchdown call.

  New England Patriots on X (formerly Twitter): ".@KingDugg_3 forces, @MarcusJonesocho takes OFF!📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/F3INDDu2nI / X"

  @KingDugg_3 forces, @MarcusJonesocho takes OFF!📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/F3INDDu2nI

  On the next play, Dugger chopped the ball loose from the Bengals’ Tanner Hudson, not just breaking up another possible touchdown but getting the ball back to the Patriots and keeping the Bengals off the scoreboard. Great start to the season for a Patriots defensive cornerstone.

  DOWN: CB Marco Wilson

  Wilson made perhaps the only straight-up bad play all afternoon for the Pats defense. After the punting unit pinned the Bengals down at the 10-yard line, Wilson gifted the Bengals 20 yards with a pass interference penalty, as he wrapped his hands around Bengals receiver Andre Iosivas down the field.

  It very easily could have been a momentum-shifting play, as the Bengals went down the field for a touchdown to make it 13-7 at the time. Fortunately, the Pats held on. The film may show Wilson had a better game than that one play indicated, but that was a tough moment for him.

• UP: DE Keion White

  No. 99 may very well be a game-wrecker. White amassed 2.5 sacks in his season debut, adding another QB hit, a forced fumble, and four tackles. He lined up both inside and outside and made an impact both ways.

  Andrew Callahan on X (formerly Twitter): "Keion White, good lord. pic.twitter.com/Joedx9vfsG / X"

  Keion White, good lord. pic.twitter.com/Joedx9vfsG

  The Pats are going to count on White as a pass-rusher in the post-Matthew Judon era, and it appears they have a really good one.

  DOWN: LB Joshua Uche

  Uche came up empty on the stat sheet, and had a rough series early in the second quarter, giving up the edge for a Joe Burrow scramble then committing an offside penalty to gift consecutive third-down plays. The Bengals turned the ball over at the goal line, but that was potentially a damaging performance by Uche on that drive. He needs to play with better discipline.

• UP: CB Jonathan Jones

  Jones made one of the biggest individual plays of the game when the Bengals went for it on fourth-and-2, flying toward Iosivas and blowing him up behind the line to gain to force a turnover on downs. Jones finished with three tackles and a pass breakup.

  New England Patriots on X (formerly Twitter): ".@justjjones with the 🛑 STOP 🛑📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/O3QlhSs4zY / X"

  @justjjones with the 🛑 STOP 🛑📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/O3QlhSs4zY

  He’ll be a key piece of the Pats secondary all season, and he’s off to a fast start.

  DOWN: C David Andrews

  The Patriots seemed to have protection issues up the middle, and it’s on Andrews to make sure they set the right blocking before they even snap the ball. Andrews is as reliable as they come at center, and the Patriots at least know they’ll snap the ball cleanly. But Andrews may have some work to do with the protection setting in this new offense.

• UP: LS Joe Cardona

  The rare UP for the long snapper! Never mind that Cardona snapped the ball cleanly all game, as he’s expected to do every snap, every game, all season. But he came up with one of the biggest plays of the game with a forced fumble on a tackle, after the Pats had punted the ball.

  New England Patriots on X (formerly Twitter): "OH WE GOT THAT!!📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/KSnTWDmeH7 / X"

  OH WE GOT THAT!!📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/KSnTWDmeH7

  The play set them up in the red zone and got them three extra points. Strong start for the special teams units overall.

  DOWN: DT Davon Godchaux

  Only one tackle for Godchaux in the game. He’s never been big on stuffing the stat sheet, but he’ll need to do a little more than that, especially in the run game. The Bengals got their ground attack going up the middle on a key touchdown drive at the time. Godchaux is going to need to lock things down a little better in those spots.

• UP: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley

  Bentley was all over the field in his first game captaining the defense under new coordinator DeMarcus Covington. He logged a team-high 12 tackles, and also generated a half-sack, as he was often shooting gaps to bring the pressure on third downs. The Pats defense was humming for most of the game, and it’s no coincidence that Bentley was heavily involved in that.

  

  Sep 8, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (31) runs with the ball against New England Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (8) and safety Kyle Dugger (23) in the second half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

  DOWN: LT Vederian Lowe

  Lowe isn’t as much of a “down” as Okorafor, as he came into the game as essentially an emergency backup. But it turned out that Lowe had to check into the game in the first quarter. He committed a false start during his first series and gave up a fair amount of pressure, but quarterback Jacoby Brissett handled it well. Despite the thrill of victory, left tackle remains a big concern for the Patriots going forward.

  Next Patriots Ups & Downs comes after they take on the Seattle Seahawks in their 2024 home opener at Gillette Stadium.

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