CINCINNATI — However this Patriots season is remembered, as part of a rebuilding or a revival or a bridge to nowhere, they will always have that sound.

That roar from the visitors’ locker room Sunday in Cincinnati, echoing as if it had been locked in the bottom of their lungs for years. A primal scream, an unleashed roar, a sound that could only mean one thing.

Victory.

Sweet victory.

Against the highest odds of Week 1, the Patriots defeated the Bengals 16-10. It was a capital “M” moment for a team redefining itself.

This victory brought joy to players. Why they play.

“It’s hard to win in this competition and there were times in my career when I took it for granted. Enjoying the win, that was something I had to learn,” said captain David Andrews. “So, we’re going to enjoy this one.”

It brought a new coaching staff proof of concept. Why they coach.

“I think everybody knew what we were trying to do — even the Bengals,” Rhamondre Stevenson said. “So for us to go out there and do it anyway, run the ball efficiently and keep them off the field as much as possible, I think we did a good job.”

It brought that unique thrill that anyone who has ever rooted for a team, especially an underdog, rejected and doubted, counting down before the clock even starts ticking, knows well. Why you watch.

“As much as you want to say, ‘ignore the noise,’” Hunter Henry admitted, “we can all see that everyone doubted us.”

Chasing that excitement was why the Patriots kept going, especially players like Andrews and Henry who suffered the most the last two years. Through the Matt Patricia-Joe Judge offense. Through each of last season’s 13 losses.

Despite all the misery and despair, feelings that made Henry consider fleeing New England, Andrews’ thoughts of retirement surfaced.

“Not that we’re going to dwell on the past, but it is what it is. Last year sucked. None of us had any fun,” Henry told the Herald. “We play this game to win, no matter what. And that’s the beauty of it.”

But moments like Sunday are the reason Henry came back. The joy, the brotherhood, the affirmation, everything.

After Mayo was hired, he shared the team’s plans to sign and draft a quarterback in the offseason, hoping to entice Henry to re-sign. He spoke about righting the ship and restoring a proud franchise in a new way.

Henry returned and more promises were made, such as the one Mayo made to Jacoby Brissett ahead of Sunday’s game.

“I was crying when I got to the stadium,” Brissett said. “Mayo came up to me before the game, he started laughing, he was like, ‘Man, you’re going to win us this game. You’re going to be out.’ I’d never heard that from a coach before. That meant a lot to me. … It’s definitely a moment I can’t take for granted.”

Mayo made promises in team meetings last week. If the defense played its best, if the offensive line blocked well, if the running backs hit hard enough, the Patriots would win.

Stevenson rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown. The offense ended the final 2:13. The Patriots won.

“When the coaches say in Week 1 that we’re going to trust our conditioning and physicality, that means a lot. And especially to finish the game the way we finished it,” Andrews said. “As an offensive lineman, that’s what you want.”

Keeping promises creates buy-in. It builds trust. It bonds a team to a coach, the same way Belichick bonded the Patriots to himself at the start of the dynasty. A master of unparalleled foresight who turned every player in the locker room into believers.