Every year, there’s always a Week 1 result that leaves you asking “How in the world did this happen?”
This year’s edition happened in Cincinnati as the Cincinnati Bengals were stunned by the New England Patriots 16-10. The Bengals’ struggles defending the run haunted them Sunday as Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 120 yards on 25 carries.
How big was the upset exactly for the Bengals? It was one we hadn’t seen in the NFL in six years. The Bengals closed as a 7.5-point favorite over the Patriots. As a result, according to ESPN Stats and Info, this loss became the biggest Week 1 upset since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints to begin the 2018 season. The Saints were nearly a 10-point favorite and lost 48-40.
Having the Patriots, a team many projected to be one of the worst teams in the league this season, come to Cincinnati Week 1 was supposed to give the Bengals some confidence and momentum heading to Kansas City in Week 2.
Now at 0-1, next week already feels like a must-win for the Bengals. The Bengals already sit as big underdogs to the Chiefs. They’ll look to pull the upset, but they have a lot to clean up if they are to succeed at Arrowhead.
Bengals closed as a 7.5 favorite over the Patriots.
Biggest Week 1 upset in the league since 2018 (Tampa Bay over New Orleans), per ESPN Stats & Info.
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) September 8, 2024
