Panthers look to Start Win Streak vs. Patriots
By Sharon Thorsland
Fresh off their shutout win over the Falcons last week, the Panthers are on the road this Sunday for a match up against the 1-2 Patriots. They’re looking to continue that momentum and get to .500 to wrap up the first quarter of the season. “Just the way we started, starting fast,” said edge rusher Princely Umanmeilen. “I feel like if we start like that every week, we can be an unstoppable force.”
The Patriots are also 1-2 on the season, coming off a brutal loss to the Steelers in a game that saw them turn the ball over five times in the red zone. They went 4-13 in 2024, resulting in the firing of coach Jerod Mayo after just one season. Replacing him is another former Patriots linebacker, Mike Vrabel. The former Titans head coach overhauled the roster and he’s brought some swagger back to Foxborough. He’s got a talented young quarterback in former UNC standout Drake Maye. Maye directs a passing attack that ranks 8th in the NFL averaging over 245 yards per game. His top targets are veteran receiver Stefon Diggs and tight end Hunter Henry. At running back it’s a three-headed monster with Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson and rookie TreyVeon Henderson. But Stevenson and Gibson combined for three lost fumbles last week, so fans are clamoring for Henderson to get more carries moving forward.
One thing to keep an eye on is the Patriots offensive line, which features a pair of rookie starters in left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson. Maye has been sacked 12 times this season, that’s tied for second most in the league. The Panthers defense played lights out last week and would love nothing more than to add to that sack total on Sunday. “He’s athletic and can make every throw,” said Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson about Maye. “He’s got the big arm to throw it but also, he’s athletic enough to take off and run and hurt you. So we just have to play sound football.”
The Panthers offense will also need to play sound football, something they were able to do last week against the Falcons. The Patriots rank in the top 10 in the league in interceptions and sacks, and their run defense is outstanding. They allow just 60 yards per game on the ground; that’s 2nd in the NFL. Former Jets defensive tackle Milton Williams anchors the front line along with 315-pound Christian Barmore. The Patriots beefed up their pass rush, bringing in veteran edge rushers Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson, they’ve combined for five sacks. The Patriots have not been very good against the pass, allowing over 256 passing yards per game. But they could get a boost with the return of All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who has been out since camp with a hamstring injury but could make his season debut Sunday. “We’ll see what happens with Christian Gonzalez, but what you see is what you get,” said Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan. “They play with toughness, they play with grit and we’ve got to come out swinging.”
This will be a very good test for the Panthers, who are on the upswing after a slow start to the season. They want to carry the momentum from the Falcons win into Foxborough, where they haven’t won since 2017. This is the ninth meeting between these teams; the series is tied at four games each.
