New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and first-year head coach Jerod Mayo each earned their first victories against the Cincinnati Bengals, doing so some three decades apart.
Kraft presented Mayo with a game ball after the Patriots defeated the Bengals 16-10 at Paycor Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The longtime Patriots owner also shared a message to both the head coach and the team after the stunning Week 1 win.
"To all of you, no one outside of this room believed this could happen," Kraft said in the Patriots locker room, as shown on CBS postgame coverage. "And every one of you contributed. I'm so proud of the new players, the new coaches. People had all the excuses it couldn't happen, but you all did it. And I'm spoiled now because I'm going to plan on a lot more of those."
Kraft then shifted his attention to Mayo, whom he long viewed as the heir apparent to the legendary Bill Belichick.
"But more importantly, we share something in common," Kraft said. "Because 31 years ago, I didn't get my first win until the third game of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals. I want to thank everyone from Cincinnati for giving you this (game ball)."
Mayo also received a Gatorade bath from his players and delivered a game ball to Eliot Wolf, the organization's executive vice president of player personnel, which Mayo called it a special moment.
