The New England Patriots defeated the Cincinnati Bengals by a 16-10 score in Week 1. The early returns were strong for New England, especially on the defensive side of the football.
One of the players who had a stellar game in particular was defensive end Keion White.
The second-year player had 2.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, two tackles for a loss and four total tackles. White has often been viewed as the potential replacement for Matthew Judon, and he showed that versatile ability in the opener.
After the game, White was quick to credit his coach, Jerod Mayo, for the team securing their first win of the season.
“As a guy who’s been there, who’s won the championships at every level, you kind of just respect that. He wouldn’t have you do anything he hasn’t done or wouldn’t do himself. He’s really like a player’s coach, he’s relatable,” said White. “He communicates to all of them. …You want to run through a brick wall for him.”
#Patriots DE Keion White against the #Bengals:
2.5 Sacks
3 QB Hits
2 Tackles For Loss
4 Total TacklesPostgame, the former-second round pick reiterated that the team would “run through a brick wall” for head coach Jerod Mayo.
“As a guy who’s been there. Who’s won the… pic.twitter.com/e77Z6zrfqV
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) September 8, 2024
White is undoubtedly going to be a defensive anchor for New England in the future. His performance against the Bengals was a testament to that.
With that being said, it’s clear that Mayo’s message has resonated with his players. Now, we’ll see if the Patriots can do it again against a talented Seattle Seahawks team in Week 2.
