CINCINNATI — On paper, everything looked in place for the Cincinnati Bengals to open the season with a win. Ja’Marr Chase was playing. Joe Burrow was coming off a full training camp. And Cincinnati was a heavy favorite over a franchise in the midst of a transition.

But none of that mattered.

Cincinnati lost to the New England Patriots 16-10 in one of the most improbable season openers in recent memory. The Bengals finished as 7.5-point favorites against a New England team that won just four games last season and was making its debut under new coach Jerod Mayo.

According to ESPN Research, it turned out to be the biggest Week 1 upset since 2018, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints as 10-point underdogs.

“It’s just frustrating that we didn’t play well enough to win,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “That’s the biggest frustration. When you look at the turnovers, when you look at the missed tackles, it’s as simple as that.”

Cincinnati went 1-5 in its season opener since Taylor took over in 2019. The coach repeatedly pointed to the team’s two turnovers and poor tackling as reasons for the loss.

In the second quarter, Cincinnati fumbled away a potential tying touchdown when tight end Tanner Hudson was stripped 2 yards before crossing the goal line. After halftime, wide receiver Charlie Jones fumbled a punt return. The Patriots recovered both balls.

Cincinnati also allowed 170 rushing yards to the Patriots, led by Rhamondre Stevenson with 120 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt cited poor execution as one of the team’s top defensive issues. He also noted how the lack of tackling during training camp could make that even more difficult once games begin.

“Obviously tackling is huge,” Pratt said. “If you can tackle guys over and over again, you get into football shape.”

The big question going into the game was whether Chase, Cincinnati’s star player, would take the field, as both teams failed to reach a contract extension before the start of the season.

Not only did Chase play despite not getting a new contract, he played despite the food poisoning he suffered on Saturday. He finished with six catches on six targets for 62 yards and said he would take intravenous fluids after the game.

Chase added that he felt ready enough to play, but regretted not being able to make a bigger impact against New England.

“I wish we had more chances to score,” said Chase, who dismissed questions about the contract and deferred questions about the lack of touchline opportunities to Taylor.

The Bengals were without Chase’s opponent, Tee Higgins, who was unable to play in the game after suffering a hamstring injury during practice on Thursday.

Burrow was 21 of 29 passing for 164 yards in his first start since suffering a season-ending wrist injury last year. However, only six of his attempts went for 10 or more air yards, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

“They took it away,” Burrow said of the deep ball. “They did a good job. They had a good plan. I just took what the defense gave me.”

When asked how he felt during his first race after the start of the season, he said that this is something that will only get better as the season progresses.

“I was comfortable, but as it goes on I’ll get more and more comfortable,” Burrow said.

But there was little solace to be found in the dressing room afterwards, as many players continued to struggle with answers not only to the shocking defeat, but also to yet another faltering start.

According to ESPN Research, Cincinnati’s three-year Week 1 losing streak is the longest in the league. In fact, the Bengals are the only team in the league that has fewer than two total wins through the first two weeks of the season, dating back to 2019.

Kansas City, the two-time reigning Super Bowl champion and Cincinnati’s next opponent, is 9-2 in the same span.

Chase indicated that he did not want to let the feeling of Sunday’s defeat linger into next week’s away game. He indicated that he was working professionally.

“We have to forget it and move on to next week,” he said.