New England Patriots
In complete, Marcus Jones tallied 167 punt return yards, setting a brand new single-game franchise report.
FOXBOROUGH – Marcus Jones’s urge for food for danger, fielding a punt with two Carolina Panthers gamers inside placing distance as he caught it, put the Patriots on the scoreboard and sparked a run of three consecutive touchdowns that put the sport out of attain early.
He sidestepped one defender, and the opposite appeared to have him caught by the ankle, just for Jones to maintain his toes shifting and break by means of the deal with and switch the play right into a footrace into the endzone for an 87-yard landing.
New England by no means seemed again, leaping out to a 28-6 halftime lead over the Panthers who seemed overwhelmed in all three phases of the sport.
Stefon Diggs recorded his first explosive play as a Patriot. TreVeyon Henderson scored his first NFL landing. Bryce Younger was compelled to accept quick 5-and-6 yard positive aspects because the Patriots’ protection refused to surrender chunk performs.
The Patriots put collectively a powerful 42-13 win over the Panthers on Sunday. Right here’s a have a look at who stood out and who struggled:
Inventory Up
Marcus Jones
Jones wasn’t accomplished after the 87-yarder. He nearly scored on one other punt return within the second quarter, which he took 61 yards earlier than the punter tripped him up contained in the 20-yard line.
The Patriots promptly scored 4 performs in a while a 1-yard landing run from Antonio Gibson, giving New England a 22-point lead.
Between the landing and the 61-yarder, Jones mainly gave the Patriots 14 factors on particular groups. It’s not like he had large open working lanes both. He took dangers, he bounced off tacklers, and used bursts of pace to create separation.
In complete, Jones tallied 167 punt return yards, setting a brand new single-game franchise report.
This younger Patriots offense can use all the assistance it might get when it comes to lightening the scoring load. Jones did simply that on Sunday.
Drake Maye
Maye, who’s from the Charlotte space, had an environment friendly day towards the crew he grew up rooting for.
He completed 14-for-17 passing and seemed tremendous comfy with a lot of time to throw. He was capable of choose and select when he wished to make use of his legs, most notably on a 5-yard landing scramble off of a play-action.
He broke out Cam Newton’s outdated Superman celebration after the landing, a nod to the previous Patriots and Panthers quarterback.
His passing efficiency was marked by calm, correct throws. He confirmed that he can zip a cross into a good window like he did to Hunter Henry on a throw that arrange 1st and 1 on the one-yard line within the first half. He additionally confirmed contact, hitting Diggs in stride for a 33-yard achieve.
Maybe most significantly, Maye made it by means of the sport with none turnovers. He fumbled and threw a choose final week, however this week he averted main errors.
Stefon Diggs
One factor about Diggs is that the man simply doesn’t drop passes. He got here into the sport with 13 catches on 15 targets and turned in one other environment friendly efficiency on Sunday.
The problem with Diggs, till Sunday, was that the catches had not resulted in explosive performs.
He was averaging 8.6 yards per catch heading into the sport, simply the bottom mark of his profession. It’s a small sample-size, however we hadn’t seen him break away for an enormous play till the 33-yarder he caught from Maye.
Diggs continues to be in quest of his first landing as a member of the Patriots, however he put up the thirty seventh 100-yard recreation of his profession and helped the crew transfer the ball nicely.
Okay’Lavon Chaisson
Chaisson posted the Patriots’ solely sack and chipped in a deal with for loss. New England solely hit Bryce Younger 4 instances as Carolina was restricted to its fast passing recreation. Chaisson had a kind of QB hits.
Carolina was pretty aggressive in working in direction of Chaisson’s aspect in the beginning of the competition, however nothing sufficiently big to swing the momentum of the sport occurred.
Finally, it wasn’t the strongest day for the Patriots’ pass-rush, however Chaisson was ready so as to add a little bit of much-needed strain.
All the Patriots’ offensive line
One sack allowed. Restricted penalties. Loads of time for Maye to throw. Speeding touchdowns from three totally different gamers, and greater than 100 yards on the bottom.
Time to say one thing we haven’t been capable of say for years: Give it up for the Patriots’ offensive line. Strong effort all the best way round. The massive fellas dealt with their enterprise. Carolina wasn’t capable of wreak a lot havoc in any respect.
Christian Barmore
Barmore’s impression received’t present up within the stat sheet as he had zero tackles and 0 sacks, however he was pushing folks round all day up entrance, serving to to explode Carolina’s run recreation.
He additionally had two of the Patriots’ 4 quarterback hits, offering strain up the center.
Each Barmore and Milton Williams have been bodily on the level of assault, and it brought on issues for the Panthers.
Inventory Flat
Christian Gonzalez
Gonzalez was strong in his return from a prolonged absence as a consequence of a hamstring harm. The start of his recreation seemed worse than it might become.
He gave up a 16-yard catch to rookie Teteroia McMillan that helped set Carolina up for its first rating on the opening drive.
After that, although, Gonzalez dealt with himself nicely. McMillan solely had two extra catches all the recreation. Carolina completed with lower than 200 passing yards.
Inventory Down
Christian Elliss
For the second week in a row, Elliss discovered himself on the bench after beginning the sport.
He gave the impression to be wandering in Craig Woodson’s path when the rookie security bought beat for a landing on the opening drive. The teaching employees didn’t appear to love what they noticed, benching him three drives into the sport although he had eight tackles.
Jack Gibbens subbed in for Ellis and wound up main the crew in tackles with 13.
Harold Landry III
Landry, who has been dominant at instances this season, completed with zero tackles and 0 sacks. He did have a QB hit.
He entered the sport with 3.5 sacks and had eight tackles the week earlier than towards the Steelers.
It was bizarre not listening to his title referred to as all day. It was an unusually quiet day for the Boston Faculty product.
Join the At the moment e-newsletter
Get every little thing it’s essential to know to begin your day, delivered proper to your inbox each morning.
