4. Special teams and defense get it back
The Patriots offense started the third quarter with three lackluster plays and had to punt the ball when the next big play of the game happened. New captain Joe Cardona ripped the ball away from the returner and Jaylinn Hawkins took advantage of the loose fumble and gave the ball back to the Patriots in Bengals territory.
That resulted in two takeaways, an encouraging sign for a team that struggled to force them in 2023.
Once again, the Bengals defense held firm, allowing just seven yards, but that was still enough for Slye to kick a 35-yard field goal that extended the Patriots’ lead to 13-0 early in the third quarter. New England’s passing attack faltered as the game wore on, while the running game struggled to gain yards.
The defense was at its best on the Bengals’ ensuing possession. First, an incomplete pass on third down forced the Bengals to try 4th and 2 from the New England 36-yard line. Burrow quickly threw a pass to evade the Patriots’ pressure, but Jonathan Jones darted forward and made an impressive tackle in the open field just short of the line to win the ball.
After forcing two turnovers, the fourth-down stop was like the third in a row, keeping the Bengals at zero points until midway through the third quarter.
