FOXBOROUGH – The New England Patriots fell into a quick 6-0 hole against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, but the game suddenly and permanently shifted gears when Marcus Jones ripped off an 87-yard punt return for touchdown one possession later. That gave the Pats a 7-6 lead and they’d continue to pour it on from there, racing to a 28-6 halftime lead that would become a 42-13 final; the most points scored at home since Week 17 of 2021.
Drake Maye went 14-of-17 for 203 yards, with a passing and rushing touchdown in an efficient effort that featured plenty of chunk plays. He was lifted for back-up Josh Dobbs early in the fourth quarter. Marcus Jones set a single-game team record for his punt return yardage (167 yards), while Stefon Diggs led the team with 101 receiving yards, his best performance to date as a Patriot.
Outside of an initial drive by Carolina, it was an all-around effort for the Patriots, delivering the first home win of the Mike Vrabel era and the first 40-point-plus scoring output since the 2021 season. Most importantly, it was a validating victory for a young New England team to build off of.
1. Panthers Come Out Firing
It didn’t take long for Carolina to take the lead in the game, as the Patriots showed little resistance on the Panthers opening drive, a mix of run and pass that kept the defense on their heels. Bryce Young and company needed just seven plays to travel 76 yards and they didn’t face a single third down. Tommy Tremble came down with the touchdown to cap off the drive but a missed extra point kept the score 6-0. It was the third time in four games that the Patriots allowed an opening drive touchdown to their opponent.
After an opening three-and-out by the Patriots offense, the Patriots defense found their stride after Carolina again moved the ball past midfield on their second possession. K’Lavon Chaisson came up with a run stop on the first third down that the Panthers faced, forcing a punt. Christian Barmore delivered a key pressure on second down to help slow down the Panthers and turn the early tide.
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