David Andrews on the advantage of having Jacoby Brissett at QB

No one expected the Patriots to come to Paycor Stadium and knock off the Cincinnati Bengals in their season opener on Sunday. The fact that they did just that comes back largely to two key figures who have been under an immense amount of scrutiny this summer: head coach Jerod Mayo and starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

On the latest episode of B-Side Sports’ “The Quick Snap” podcast, co-hosts Brian Hoyer and David Andrews praised both the coach and quarterback for leading the underdog Patriots to an unexpected win.

But it wasn’t just about having the right game plan or sterling execution – though the Patriots did have both those things for much of Sunday’s win. For Andrews, Mayo’s message and his ability to communicate his vision to the team matters every bit as much as the whiteboard.

“The biggest thing is belief,” Andrews explained. “Jerod did such a great job – obviously throughout the year, but this week – trying to get guys ready to go and talking about how we want to play the game. … There’s belief in that. Guys saw this is how we can win games.”

Specifically, New England won by playing physical, largely mistake-free football on offense (no turnovers) and inspired defense, including generating two key turnovers that stole points from Joe Burrow and the Bengals. That style, noted Hoyer, is a direct reflection of Mayo.

“A lot of good teams, they embody who their coach is,” Hoyer said. “To me, that was a Jerod Mayo football team. That’s who he was as a player.”

Mayo’s chosen quarterback for this contest – the veteran Brissett – played a mostly clean game (15-for-21 passing, 121 yards), did enough to keep points on the board and let the defense do its work on Burrow and Co. While it won’t win anyone’s fantasy league, that performance did help win the Patriots the game.

Sometimes, knowing when not to do too much is a winning trait, Andrews explained, and it may be a valuable one for a certain No. 3 overall pick waiting in the wings to learn.

“It’s nice having a veteran presence at quarterback,” Andrews said. “Obviously, Drake’s got a bright future ahead of him. But to kind of see and learn from Jacoby, ‘Ok, I don’t have to go out there and throw it for 350 yards. I can go out there, I can play good, smart, complementary football, and we can win games.’ … I think as a quarterback, that leadership Jacoby provides has been great. It’s something we’ve been needing on the offensive side of the ball.”

Even if Brissett doesn’t start for the rest of the season, he’ll still be in the room guiding Maye as he officially takes the first steps in his NFL career.