There should be no further questions about why Jacoby Brissett is the New England Patriots‘ starting quarterback.
Many fans understandably want Drake Maye to play as soon as possible — and his time likely will come at some point this season.
However, despite Jerod Mayo’s instance of an open QB competition, there never really was one. Brissett repped like the top QB all summer, and nobody should’ve been surprised when Mayo named him the starter.
On Sunday, Brissett showed everyone why he deserves to start over Maye, and should remain the Patriots’ starting QB for the foreseeable future.
Jacoby Brissett Leads Patriots to Week 1 Win Over Bengals
The Patriots entered Sunday’s game in Cincinnati as 8.5-point underdogs against the Bengals. But New England beat the odds to score a 16-10 upset, and Brissett was a big reason why.
The veteran’s numbers won’t blow you away. He completed just 15 of 24 passes for 121 yards and zero touchdowns, and his longest completion went for 17 yards. Brissett’s limitations were also on display when the Patriots’ offense stalled for long stretches of the game.
But New England never was going to get into a shootout with the Bengals, and none of the players will tell you the Patriots have a high-powered offense. If the Patriots’ offense is going to be effective this season, it will need to get by on being tough, limiting mistakes, and executing in key situations.
Brissett checked all three boxes Sunday, especially on two key drives (more on those in a bit).
The 31-year-old QB was excellent at managing pressure (he took just one sack), standing tall in the pocket, and ensuring the offense was organized in important situations.
Brissett also took multiple big hits on a day that saw New England’s maligned offensive line excel in run blocking but struggle in pass protection.
“It was great,” Jerod Mayo said of Brissett after the game. “He made plays with his legs; he made plays with his arm. He’s a tough guy. He took some hits in the game, I’m just like, ‘Man, get up.’
“He did everything that we asked him to do in the week, and we came out of here with a victory.”
LIVE: Patriots Postgame Press Conferences: https://t.co/skyEhym7an
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 8, 2024
Maye is the future of the franchise. And given how good he looked late in training camp, he probably will get a chance to play sometime in 2024.
But this wasn’t the kind of game for him. The Patriots needed to avoid a back-breaking mistake to beat the Bengals, and it’s hard to envision a scenario in which Maye emerged unscathed from Cincy’s relentless pressure. It’s easy to imagine Maye trying to do too much and either taking a sack or turning the ball over in a big spot. He’s a rookie, after all.
Plus, the Patriots don’t want Maye taking the kind of hits that Brissett took on Sunday. Playing Maye behind the O-line in its current state would be too risky.
Brissett is the ideal bridge quarterback for the Patriots. He has just enough tools to give the team a chance to win, and he is also a respected leader who understands the reality of his situation.
“I think I cried three times before the game,” Brissett said during his postgame news conference. “I cried when I got to the stadium. Mayo came up to me before the game, he started laughing, he’s like, ‘Man, you’re about to win us this game. you’re about to ball out.’ I’d never heard that from a coach. That meant a lot to me.
“And then I cried when we were going out on offense. My emotions were definitely high. It’s definitely a moment that I just can’t take for granted. These things don’t come by often.”
The 2 Drives That Showed Why Brissett Deserves To Start Over Drake Maye
Brissett wasn’t going to win this game solely on intangibles. He needed to make plays and, you know, put points on the board.
Brissett was especially good on two drives: one that resulted in a first-quarter touchdown and one that resulted in a fourth-quarter field goal.
He converted two third downs on the first drive, one on a 9-yard pass to DeMario Douglas and another on a 16-yard scramble. Bengals pass rushers were in his face on both plays.
Brissett also connected with Austin Hooper on a 16-yard pass, and with K.J. Osborn on a 7-yard pass that set up a manageable third down on the goal line. Rhamondre Stevenson delivered New England’s lone touchdown on the next play.
Brissett just made smart, simple plays throughout the drive. That includes a 10-yard pass to Tyquan Thornton on second-and-15 to set up the third-down scramble.
Jacoby wheels for a first down 🔥@JBrissett12 | #NEvsCIN
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/vBTwKxFbCn
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 8, 2024
As for the other drive, it didn’t result in a TD, but it was equally important.
The Bengals had seized momentum and appeared primed for a fourth-quarter comeback. But Brissett remained calm and led the Patriots on a 12-play, 52-yard drive that culminated in a Joey Slye field goal that gave New England needed breathing room.
Brissett converted two third downs on the drive, one on a 6-yard scramble and one on a 9-yard pass to Hunter Henry. He also hit Osborn for 9 yards on third-and-11 to give Slye an easier field goal try from 37 yards.
Along the way, Brissett bled the clock effectively and didn’t submit any negative plays. He did exactly what the situation required.
Could Maye have been as effective in those situations? Perhaps. But it doesn’t matter.
The Patriots have a quarterback in Brissett who can execute at a reasonable level while giving Maye extra time to develop. It’s a win-win for the Patriots and something they shouldn’t rush to move on from.