Here is a Patriots-centric view at some of the key moments of the game.
Advertisement
Moment No. 1: House call
Falling behind 6-0 in the first quarter after a slow start in all three phases, the Patriots needed a spark. They got it from one of their team captains. Marcus Jones, a first-team All-Pro punt returner during his 2022 rookie season and one of the most dangerous returnmen in football ever since, fielded the Panthers’ first punt of the game, evaded two would-be tacklers, and took off for an 87-yard journey that ended in Carolina’s end zone.
Moment No. 2: Superman Maye
Up until he was drafted third overall by the Patriots last year, Drake Maye’s football life was Carolina through and through — from playing high school and college football in North Carolina to rooting for the Panthers growing up. On Sunday, he first met them in the NFL and promptly scored a 5-yard rushing touchdown.
After the touchdown, Maye paid homage to a Carolina legend by doing the “Superman” celebration made popular by longtime Panthers quarterback (and onetime Patriot) Cam Newton.
Moment(s) No. 3: Back-to-back
The Patriots’ running back group had a bad day against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, losing three fumbles, but it rebounded nicely against Carolina. Not only did it not put the ball on the ground all day, it also scored a pair of touchdowns that helped the team pull away in the second quarter.
First up was rookie TreVeyon Henderson, who scored his first career touchdown from 5 yards out to help the Patriots capitalize on a short field following a Carolina missed field goal. On their very next drive — set up by a 61-yard Marcus Jones punt return to the Panthers 14 — it was Antonio Gibson’s turn to punch the ball in from the 1-yard line.
Moment(s) No. 4: Diggin’ it
When the Patriots signed Stefon Diggs to a three-year, $63.5 million contract this offseason, the hope was that he would become a go-to guy for quarterback Drake Maye. On Sunday, he was: the pair connected six times for 101 yards. One of their biggest plays came in the third quarter, when Maye found Diggs behind the defense to move the sticks on a 3rd-and-15.
Maye and Diggs later had another big conversion, even though the game was very much decided at that point. Going for it on 4th-an-3 in Carolina territory, the young QB and the veteran WR hooked up on a back-shoulder ball down the right sideline to set up a Mack Hollins touchdown.
Moment No. 5: Ol’ reliable
Speaking of go-to targets for Drake Maye: Hunter Henry continues to be the Patriots’ most reliable offensive weapon. While he only had two catches for 39 yards from Maye on Sunday, one of them was a 31-yard catch-and-run touchdown to put the Patriots over the 30-point mark.
Advertisement
Moment No. 6: In on the fun
The Patriots scored six touchdowns on Sunday, and all six of them came from a different player. The sixth and final one was scored by wide receiver Mack Hollins, who hauled in a 4-yard TD from Drake Maye. It was Hollins’ second touchdown of the season after he already hauled another one in against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.
Moment No. 7: Day over
The seventh and final moment that defined the Patriots’ win over the Panthers doesn’t come with a fancy highlight clip, but rather a brief excerpt from the NFL’s official game book:
NE-1-10-NE 41 (10:17) 11-J.Dobbs in at QB. (Shotgun) A.Gibson right guard to NE 44 for 3 yards (B.Brown; A.Robinson).
With over 10 minutes to go in the game, and just after New England’s defense stopped a Panthers 4th-and-2, Mike Vrabel pulled starting quarterback Drake Maye from the contest. Up 42-6, it was time for backup Joshua Dobbs to finish the day.
