FOXBORO — On paper, the Patriots’ offensive line outperformed expectations in Sunday’s Week 1 win over the Bengals. But they owe a debt of gratitude to quarterback Jacoby Brissett and running back Rhamondre Stevenson for making them appear better than they really were.

Stevenson rushed 25 times for 120 yards in Sunday’s 16-10 win, which looks great for the line, but 118 of those yards came after contact, per PFF. And Brissett took just one sack behind the Patriots’ blockers, but he also faced the NFL’s highest pressure rate, per PFF.

Brissett was under pressure on 44.8% of his dropbacks, but his 7.7% pressure-to-sack rate was second in the league behind Ravens elusive QB Lamar Jackson, meaning his ability to get the ball out quickly and evade pressure by stepping up into the pocket and using a combination of strength and elusiveness helped save the Patriots several potential sacks.

Related Articles

Patriost injury report: Jerod Mayo giving veteran players rest day

Patriots extra points: Jerod Mayo talks 9/11 remembrance in team meeting

How Patriots rookie Ja’Lynn Polk shined beyond the box score in NFL debut

Patriots missing only 1 player at first practice before Seahawks game

Patriots extra points: Undersized cornerbacks praised for physical play

The Patriots’ starting quarterback wasn’t phenomenal throwing under pressure – he was just 4-of-8 for 38 yards with one turnover-worthy play, but he also scrambled four times for 30 yards. And he took just one negative play, which wasn’t a traditional sack in the pocket. Brissett began to scramble and was drilled by Bengals safety Daxton Hill while still elevated on a slide attempt a yard from the line of scrimmage.

“He has a good pocket presence,” head coach Jerod Mayo said of Brissett. “This is a veteran player that went out there and did everything we expected him to do. We talk about not turning over the ball, and not taking negative plays. I thought he did a good job with that. Historically, he has done a good job with that. Hopefully this week, we’ll see some progress.”

Of 31 qualified QBs, Brissett ranked 17th in total offensive grade under pressure with a 50.7 mark. He was 21st in under-pressure passing grade (39.1), which was dragged down with a near interception in the end zone that tight end Hunter Henry had to break up. His under-pressure rushing grade of 70.6 ranked sixth.

Those numbers don’t really put into perspective how well Brissett avoided sacks, however.

Pocket presence and evading pressure wasn’t always a strong suit of Brissett’s. As a second-year pro in his first season as a starter in 2017, Brissett led the NFL with 52 sacks and a 9.98% sack rate. His 23.1% pressure-to-sack rate ranked first among qualified quarterbacks that season. That rate dropped to 13.9% in 2019, then settled at 16.4% in 2021 and 17.5% in 2022, where he ranked above average.

So, how did he improve?

“I mean, I think I’ve been fortunate to play on really good O-lines. I think that plays a part in it,” Brissett said. “Understanding football a little bit more, being OK with throwing the ball away – I think, obviously, your completion percentage kind of takes a hit, but I think that’s better than a sack and getting into negative yards. I think understanding that more now in my older days than I was when I was younger in the league, I think that definitely has paid off. Watching really good quarterbacks, honestly, do it for a while – watching Tom (Brady), Phillip (Rivers) and Andrew (Luck) – finding ways to not get negative plays. So, I think that definitely played a part in it.”

The Patriots will likely need Brissett to keep pulling a rabbit out of his hat while facing pressure because it’s probably not going away anytime soon. Mayo argued Monday that the Patriots’ offensive line “deficiencies” have been overblown based on their performance in Sunday’s win and three preseason games. The line was an issue in the Patriots’ joint practice with the Eagles, when they faced starters, and they were still allowing a high rate of pressure Sunday.

Mayo and offensive line coach Alex Van Pelt were quick to make one switch, subbing Vederian Lowe for starting left tackle Chukwuma Okorafor midway through their second offensive series, and it helped. Okorafor allowed three pressures in just six pass-blocking snaps, while Lowe allowed the same mark in 23 pass-blocking snaps.

Center David Andrews, who along with starting right tackle Mike Onwenu didn’t allow a single pressure, was grateful for Brissett’s pocket presence.

“As much as you want it to be perfect on Sunday, it’s not going to be,” Andrews said. “The pocket movement is a huge part of that position. Because it’s not always going to be perfect, but knowing when to step up or move this way, move that way and sometimes not make a bad play worse is a huge thing that we always talk about. …

“You never want to make a bad play worse, and I think he did a good job of that on Sunday.”

Lowe was working with the first team in practice Wednesday with Michael Jordan at left guard, Andrews at center, Layden Robinson at right guard and Mike Onwenu at right tackle. Starting left guard Sidy Sow has yet to return from an ankle injury, and the Patriots still have 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange eligible to return off of the PUP list after Week 4.

The Patriots also claimed two offensive linemen – tackle Demontrey Jacobs and guard Zach Thomas – off of waivers late last month. Jacobs was working as a third-stringer behind Lowe, Onwenu, Okorafor and rookie Caedan Wallace, who contributed as a jumbo tight end Sunday, during Wednesday’s practice. Thomas was working as the second-string left guard.

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) hands the ball off to running back Rhamondre Stevenson during the first half last Sunday. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)