Rapid Recap: Patriots Open 2024 with Win over Bengals

The Patriots offense opened the third quarter with a lackluster three plays and were forced to punt the ball away when the game's next big play happened. New captain Joe Cardona jarred the ball loose from the returner and Jaylinn Hawkins pounced on the loose fumble, handing the ball back to the Patriots inside Bengals territory.

That made for two takeaways, an encouraging sign for a team that struggled to force them in 2023.

Once again the Bengals defense held strong, allowing only seven yards but they were still enough for Slye, who hit a 35-yard field goal that extended the lead to 13-0 Patriots early in the third quarter. New England's passing offense started to stumble as the game wore on, while the running game produced tough yards.

The defense came through with another big play on the Bengals ensuing possession. First, a third-down incompletion forced the Bengals to go for it on 4th-and-2 from New England's 36-yard line. Burrow quickly fired a pass to avoid the coming Patriots pressure, but Jonathan Jones shot forward and made an impressive open-field tackle short of the line to gain.

After forcing two takeaways the fourth-down stop was like a third-straight, holding the Bengals to no points halfway through the third quarter.