How Jacoby Brissett ‘Surprised’ Jerod Mayo In Patriots’ Upset Win

The Patriots leaned on the ground game to secure a surprising win over the Bengals on Sunday.

Rhamondre Stevenson led the way for New England in Cincinnati, totaling 120 rushing yards with a touchdown on 25 carries at Paycor Stadium. Antonio Gibson tallied 18 rushing yards of his own, but the Patriots newcomer wasn’t the team’s second-leading rusher in Week 1.

That honor belonged to Jacoby Brissett, a veteran quarterback who isn’t exactly fleet of foot. Brissett’s 32 yards on the ground even took his head coach by surprise.

“(Brissett) actually made some plays with his legs, which was surprising, because he’s probably the slowest Black quarterback in the league,” Jerod Mayo said Monday morning on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show,” as transcribed by the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan.

While Brissett’s running caught Mayo off guard, the first-year head coach wasn’t surprised by the signal-caller’s efficient season-opening performance. Mayo instilled a great deal of confidence in Brissett before kickoff, which moved the 31-year-old to tears.

Brissett now will try to carry the momentum into Sunday’s Patriots home opener against the Seattle Seahawks. The QB and his teammates should enter Week 2 plenty motivated, as oddsmakers still are doubting New England even after its season-opening statement.