This one was a long time in coming. It has been awhile since a Patriots’ QB was pulled from a game in the fourth quarter because the team was so far ahead.
Mike Vrabel and his staff have to feel good about this win. They beat a team that they were supposed to beat, that they should beat. Carolina is a bad football team. But before the Patriots can become a good team, they have to start by beating the other bad ones. And today they left no doubt.
But they did so convincingly. There were no turnovers, taking the foot off the accelerator and letting the Panthers come back and making it competitive, before eking out a victory.
From the moment that Marcus Jones made the play of the game, and completely turned this one around, the Patriots were in control and never looked back. They then dominated play going on a 42-0 run until the final two minutes of garbage time.
They needed this one, especially after essentially outplaying the Steelers but turning the ball over time and again and losing a game they should have won. This one was clean. And it is needed for a young team that is trying to build something and pull themselves out of a morass that the team has been stuck in for the past few years.
And after the debacle against Pittsburgh, the players needed a win like this to right the ship and bring back their confidence. As Ragnar Lothbrok said, “The calm sea does not make skilled sailors.”
Marcus Jones Is Your Player Of the Game:
The Patriots got off to another slow start, Carolina’s scripted first 15 plays sliced the defense up and they quickly moved down the field for a touchdown but botched the extra point. The Patriots went three and out. Once the Patriots stopped them on their second drive, the game turned in an instant.
Marcus Jones returned the punt 87 yards for a touchdown and did so with a sea of blue jerseys with him as he went into the end zone. After that score, the entire team was lifted and the Patriots dominated. But Marcus Jones wasn’t done. He returned another punt 61 yards and if it wasn’t for a shoestring tackle, he would have had another score. But it set the Patriots up at the Carolina 14-yard line, where four plays later, the Patriots would score again, on a one-yard touchdown by Antonio Gibson
Jones would return a final punt 19 yards, which would set up the Patriots at the Carolina 41-yard line for another touchdown.
Jones’ 167 return yards was a Patriots’ team record, besting Michael Haynes 156 yards set nearly 50 years ago in 1976.
Defense Rebounds From a Slow Start to Dominate:
Bryce Young began the game 6-6 for 71 yards and a touchdown, as the Patriots got off to another slow start defensively. But after that score, and Jones’ return touchdown, the Patriots defense never looked back.
After Young’s hot start, he was 12-24 for 79 yards the rest of the game. He averaged 3.29 yards per pass for the final three plus quarters. He was relieved by Andy Dalton who came in at garbage time.
The run defense allowed more than 100 yards rushing (129) for the first time this year. But while you can give the Panthers some credit there for some hard running, the Patriots, with a huge lead will allow the opponent to run the football and eat the clock. The Panthers were trying to run to the edges away from the pressure of Milton Williams and Christian Barmore.
Christian Ellis was benched for Jack Gibbens who led the game with 12 tackles. Ellis returned later but he may be a rotational guy with Gibbens seemingly offering a great knowledge of Vrabel’s defense.
Christian Gonzalez Returns And Shows Little Rust:
The Patriots All-Pro corner returned to the field for the first time this season and played without any pitch counts. He played every defensive snap until the fourth quarter when the blowout was in full steam.
He looked good in his first game action, and the team will definitely need him moving forward. Especially with the Bills next on the schedule.
Drake Maye And Stefon Diggs, Making Some Chemistry Together:
All last week, I wrote that the Patriots needed to move Diggs to the slot to help jumpstart the passing game. Josh McDaniels moved Diggs into the slot and sat DeMario Douglas and the results were very impressive.
Diggs had his first 100-yard game as a Patriot and the 37th of his career, catching six passes for 101 yards on seven targets, including a 33-yarder and a 30-yard beauty that set up the Patriots final touchdown.
The chunk plays were coming in bunches today, and Diggs and Maye look like they are just scratching the surface of what they can accomplish.
Maye had a fantastic day. Completing 14 of 17 passes for 203 yards (11.9 yard average) with two TDs and most importantly, no interceptions for a QB rating of 155.6. He also had three carries for 11 yards and a touchdown.
This is his third game in a row completing more than 75 percent of his passes. The game is beginning to slow down for the second-year QB and as he gets more comfortable in McDaniels’ offense, he should find more success.
The coaching staff has to be very happy to see where Maye is at the quarter-point of the season.
Other observations:
Hunter Henry had an outstanding 31-yard touchdown reception down the left sideline.
Rhamondre Stevenson led the way for snaps for the running backs and had nine carries for 38 yards including a 22-yarder.
TreVeyon Henderson had seven carries for 32 yards, including his first NFL touchdown. Antonio Gibson had six carries for 27 yards including a touchdown. The team spread the wealth around as they ran for 104 yards as a team.
The seven chunk plays of 20+ yards was a pleasant surprise. They had plays of 33, 31, 30, 24, 22, 22, and 21 yards on the day.
Check back with us later as we’ll have our positional report card and put a wrap on the Panthers week, as we get ready to shuffle off to Buffalo.
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
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A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
