By Steve Atkinson
The Patriots secured a blowout victory over the Panthers on Sunday, which was crucial in avoiding a 1-3 record heading into next week’s game against Buffalo. Now at 2-2, the Patriots have an exciting matchup with the Bills next Sunday night. When was the last time you looked forward to a primetime game? Probably during Mac Jones’ rookie season with Josh McDaniels.
Patriots Win Over Panthers
Drake Maye and the offense had no turnovers on Sunday, but there were some penalties. Fortunately, the Panthers are struggling this season, so it didn’t affect the outcome. Bryce Young, the top pick, hasn’t performed well at all. It’s unclear if the coaching staff is to blame, but the Panthers are in rough shape. It’s good to see Drake succeed against his childhood team, especially considering how they treated Cam Newton.
The running game was effective, with Stevenson being utilized differently, as Henderson and Gibson were used more in the rotation.
Stefon Diggs also had a notable performance, finishing with 100 receiving yards and making a fantastic catch from Drake late in the game. Hunter Henry contributed with some impressive plays, including two touchdowns. Overall, the defense performed solidly for the most part.
Marcus Jones is definitely one of the best kick returners in the game having two great returns for a big game and a touchdown. Here is Mike Vrabel after the game on Jones.
He’s not the biggest player, but he’s got great play strength, I think, with the football in his hand. He’s got great vision, and, again, you have to be fearless at some level to catch that punt and know that you’re going to make the first guy miss. We’re confident in that. I think he kind of just — it’s just a natural skill. It’s hard to teach. It’s hard to teach with all those bodies in traffic and catching it first and making great decisions with it back there. It’s a lot of comfort with him back there, and we need to continue to make it a weapon.
Here was Vrabel on Diggs and the offense
just where the ball is going. Stef (Stefon Diggs) and everyone has done a nice job. If we can continue to believe in the quarterback that he’s going to throw to the guy who’s open in the progression, then good things will happen. We get down there in the red zone, and everybody’s going to score. We’ve got plenty of plays down there. If everybody just stays the course and does the right things and does all the things that helps the team, that those plays are going to come for them in the red zone. It’s just like the defensive line. They want sacks, and they want all this. [Christian] Barmore is disrupting the quarterback, and he’s getting holding calls. I don’t want him to be frustrated, but I see those things. Pop (DeMario) Douglas would have liked to have a couple extra catches today, but he also turned and blocked and Hunter Henry ran down the sidelines. Nobody’s going to say it unless I say it. So those are the things that matter, not the guy catching the touchdown. That’s the easy part.
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