Game #9 NE Patriots (4-4) vs Carolina Panthers(4-4) 11/7/2021 1:00 PM EST CBS

[BigKen]

Patriots are on a roll and the Panthers are Jeckyl and Hyde. Patriots are 3-0 on the road this season and seem to play better in adverse environments.

Pats defense should have a good day against former Jet QB Sam Darnold. Panthers are going to church daily and praying for Christian McCaffery to heal enough to play.

As soon as the stats are completed, they'll get posted.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Patriots are on a roll and the Panthers are Jeckyl and Hyde. Patriots are 3-0 on the road this season and seem to play better in adverse environments.

Pats defense should have a good day against former Jet QB Sam Darnold. Panthers are going to church daily and praying for Christian McCaffery to heal enough to play.

As soon as the stats are completed, they'll get posted.

Here's hoping Gilmore leaves with a tweaked Hammy or sore quad....

 

[nefansince75]

Here's hoping Gilmore leaves with a tweaked Hammy or sore quad....

That seems inevitable. I could be proven wrong, but it seems Gilmore was holding out for a new contract because he could not demonstrate he still deserved one.

 

[molsaniceman]

Here's hoping Gilmore leaves with a tweaked Hammy or sore quad....

more worried about this guy

ESPN's David Newton reports Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) is "on target" to return from injured reserve for Week 9 against the Patriots.​

CMC was placed on I.R. ahead of Week 6, so this week's date with the Falcons is the final game he's required to miss. He hasn't played since going down in Week 3 against the Texans after suffering a setback in practice a few weeks back. Chuba Hubbard will get one more start in the Carolina backfield.

 

[Southieinnc]

more worried about this guy

ESPN's David Newton reports Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) is "on target" to return from injured reserve for Week 9 against the Patriots.​

CMC was placed on I.R. ahead of Week 6, so this week's date with the Falcons is the final game he's required to miss. He hasn't played since going down in Week 3 against the Texans after suffering a setback in practice a few weeks back. Chuba Hubbard will get one more start in the Carolina backfield.

If they try to get a game out of CMC coming off the IR, they'll be making a big mistake. A hammy bad enough to IR needs a lot of rehab before full effort.

 

[sharkymcwrath]

Pats 27 Panthers 21

 

[Southieinnc]

Panthers need another QB after Darnold's concussion, just don't let it be Cam Newton

Newton, 32, is the best quarterback in Carolina history and a former NFL Most Valuable Player, and is a free agent after being released by New England in September. The Panthers will likely have to do something this week at quarterback, because Sam Darnold sustained a concussion Sunday in a win...

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Southieinnc]

“Yeah, he’ll practice Wednesday, I’m hoping,” Rhule said. “If he practices on Wednesday and does well, then we’ll see how he is on Thursday and just kind of ramp him up toward the game. He hasn’t practiced yet, so there’s always a return-to-play component to it. But no one works harder than Christian McCaffrey. When he comes back, he’ll be in shape and ready to go. So hopefully we have him. We’ll know more as the week goes on.”

 

[sharkymcwrath]

Panthers need another QB after Darnold's concussion, just don't let it be Cam Newton

Newton, 32, is the best quarterback in Carolina history and a former NFL Most Valuable Player, and is a free agent after being released by New England in September. The Panthers will likely have to do something this week at quarterback, because Sam Darnold sustained a concussion Sunday in a win...

sports.yahoo.com

That would be fantastic. I'd finally get to enjoy hearing "Newton up the middle for -2 yards".

 

[YankeeRebel]

I just want the W. Although we are 0-2 against the NFCS this year,.

Hope we don't get to beat up before we face Buffalo.

 

[nefansince75]

That would be fantastic. I'd finally get to enjoy hearing "Newton up the middle for -2 yards".

I'd love to hear "Newton reads the defense and changes the play....", only because we never ever heard that while he was with the Pats.

 

[sharkymcwrath]

I'd love to hear "Newton reads the defense and changes the play....", only because we never ever heard that while he was with the Pats.

And finally during garbage time in the 4th quarter when the Pats are up by 38 Newton scores the first points of the night for the Panthers he can do his superman act and high five his teammates.

 

[nefansince75]

And finally during garbage time in the 4th quarter when the Pats are up by 38 Newton scores the first points of the night for the Panthers he can do his superman act and high five his teammates.

... and do his act where he tries to make it seem like he thinks it all about them...

Honestly, I like Cam as a person a lot more since he arrived with the Pats, and I still do. I dismiss his comments made after he left, mostly because they were in denial and for the team to have actually screwed him he'd need other suitors who wanted him. BB did him right by guaranteeing some of his money that he kept as a parting gift.

But with that said, he's a quirky "look at me" kinda guy.

 

[Southieinnc]

I have seen several articles praising Panthers defense. Fair enough.

I have also seen it mentioned that Panthers run D is better than Chargers. Fair enough.

I have also seen them mention that Patriots win was good but Damien Harris 80 yards not so much. Bullshit.
He would have more than 130 yards if not for dumb penalties!

 

[BigKen]

SCOUTING THE MATCHUPS​

Points may be at a premium in Sunday's matchup between the Patriots and Panthers.
By Paul Perillo
When the Patriots run - Edge: Panthers
The Patriots continue to try to get things going on the ground but have been rather inconsistent thus far. Damien Harris had back-to-back 100-yard games headed to Los Angeles and figured to have a big day against the worst run defense in football, but the Chargers held him largely in check (23 carries, 80 yards, 3.5-yard average). As a team the Patriots picked up 141 yards on the ground but needed 39 carries to do so and averaged only 3.6 per rush. The Panthers are much better against the run than the Chargers, ranking 13th in the league allowing 106.8 yards per game. Opponents have churned out 4.4 per carry against Carolina, which ranks 21st, but the Patriots will need to be better up front in order to take advantage. Rhamondre Stevenson came off the bench to pick up some tough yards and could be an option as well. Carolina boasts some bulk up front with Brian Burns, Derrick Brown and DaQuan Jones playing in front of an active group of linebackers led by Shaq Thompson and Jermaine Carter. The Patriots seem to have settled on an offensive line that includes Ted Karras at left guard and Mike Onwenu at right tackle and that group has stabilized things up front. That consistency will need to continue against the Panthers.
When the Patriots pass - Edge: Panthers
Carolina's secondary has been outstanding despite losing some valuable pieces along the way. Rookie Jaycee Horn, Juston Burris and Myles Hartsfield are all on IR and C.J. Henderson missed the Falcons win with a shoulder injury. But the cupboard isn't bare as Carolina welcomed Stephon Gilmore to the mix last week and he joins A.J. Bouye, Donte Jackson and Keith Taylor at corner for a secondary that ranks second in the league allowing 189 yards per game through the air. Safeties Jeremy Chinn and Sean Chandler are steady on the back end, and the sticky coverage has allowed the Panthers pass rush to get involved. Carolina has 21 sacks on the season, led by former Cardinals first-round pick Haason Reddick's 7.5. Burns is second on the list with 4.5, giving the Panthers some versatility up front. The Patriots protection has been better of late as Mac Jones has been sacked just twice over the last two games. But the Chargers flashed some pressure and caused some indecision from the rookie last week, and Jones will need to deal with the rush more effectively on Sunday in Charlotte. Jones has done a nice job of spreading the ball around of late, but it would be nice to see one player emerge as a go-to threat on a more consistent basis.
When the Panthers run - Edge: Patriots

As has been the case for most of the past two seasons, Carolina has been without its leading running back Christian McCaffrey since September. The all-purpose back is eligible to return from IR this week and Panthers coach Matt Rhule said he hopes to have him back in the mix if not this week then for Week 10. So, his status remains very much up in the air, leaving the Panthers ground game in the hands of Chuba Hubbard. The rookie out of Oklahoma State has been serviceable, leading the team with 391 yards rushing on 108 carries for a 3.6-yard average, but lacks the dynamic element McCaffrey brings. The Panthers are in the middle of the pack when it comes to rushing, averaging 114.5 yards per game, but much of that has come from quarterback Sam Darnold. He had 66 yards against Atlanta before leaving with a concussion, helping Carolina pile up 203 yards on the ground in Atlanta. Carolina will also use Ameer Abdullah and Royce Freeman, but Hubbard will see the lion's share of the carries if McCaffrey remains out. The Patriots run defense has improved as of late but has been susceptible to big plays. If the front seven can fix those issues, this is a matchup the Patriots should control on Sunday.
When the Panthers pass - Edge: Patriots
Darnold has been up and down throughout the season, getting off to a hot start before being benched during the final game of a four-game losing streak. On the season he ranks near the bottom (30th) with a 76.8 passer rating and has just seven touchdowns against eight interceptions. He was playing well in Atlanta before leaving in the second half, but even then the big plays that he was making during a three-game winning streak to open the season were lacking. And then he was knocked out of the game and will need to clear concussion protocol before returning. If he can't go backup P.J. Walker will make the start. In limited time this year he's completed just 3 of 20 passes, but he did post a victory in Week 11 last season, completing 24 of 34 for 238 yards and a touchdown to go with two interceptions in a win over Detroit in 2020 in his only career start. The Patriots secondary is coming off one of its strongest efforts of the season against the Chargers. J.C. Jackson could see a lot of D.J. Moore, who is far and away the Panthers top target with 50 receptions for 645 yards and three TDs. Robbie Anderson is next with just 18 grabs, so finding a way to limit Moore will go a long way toward stopping what has been a very limited Panthers passing game that ranks 28th in the league. The Patriots should be able to keep the momentum going in that regard.
Special Teams - Edge: Patriots
Gunner Olszewski probably wishes he could play every game at SoFi Stadium against the Chargers. Last season he took a punt back 70 yards for a touchdown and another 61 yards. On Sunday he set up short fields for the Patriots with returns of 21, 22 and 27 yards. His spark helped an offense that was struggling throughout the day. His resurgence has augmented the stellar work of kicker Nick Folk, who is on a short list of candidates for Patriots MVP. He made four more field goals against the Chargers, including a pair from 48 yards, and still has just one miss all season. Carolina's Zane Gonzalez has been solid making 13 of 15 field goals including kicks of 51 and 57 yards Sunday against Atlanta. Punter Lachlan Edwards replaced the injured Joseph Charlton and averaged 43.8 yards on four attempts against the Falcons. Alex Erickson and Abdullah have handled the return duties but neither has been effective. The Panthers allow just 5.6 yards per punt return, so it's possible that Olszewski will find things a little tougher this week than he has the last two. The Patriots tend to continue the momentum when it comes to special teams and their recent uptick gives them the edge against Carolina.

Photo by Eric J. Adler
Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) runs during New England's game against the Carolina Panthers in 2019.

SERIES HISTORY​

The New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers will meet for the seventh time in the regular season and for the eighth time overall.
The team's last played in the regular season in 2017 at Gillette stadium with Carolina leaving with a 33-30 victory on Oct. 1. It will be the Patriots first regular season visit to Carolina since a Monday Night Football game on Nov. 18, 2013 when Carolina edged the Patriots, 24-20. The Patriots have lost their last two games against Carolina.
The Panthers holds a 4-2 edge in the regular season, including a 2-1 record at Carolina.
The Patriots and Panthers met in Super Bowl XXXVIII on Feb. 2, 2004. The Patriots-Panthers Super Bowl is widely believed to be among the most entertaining Super Bowls ever played, as the Panthers took a fourth-quarter lead only to see the Patriots came up with a game-winning field goal to clinch the see-saw battle in the final seconds.
SERIES TRENDS
Overall Record (including playoffs): 3-4

• Record in Foxborough. 1-2
• Record in Charlotte: 1-2
• Record in Houston: 1-0

Total Points in the Series: Patriots 174, Panthers 149
Patriots' Largest Margin of Victory: 32 points (01/06/02)
Patriots' Largest Margin of Defeat: 10 points (09/18/05)
Highest Combined Point Total: 63 points (10/01/17)
Lowest Combined Point Total: 37 points (10/29/95)
Games Decided by Seven or Fewer Points: 4
Games Decided by 21 or More Points: 1
Current Win Streak: Panthers, two games

TALE OF THE TAPE​

Table inside Article

2021 REGULAR SEASON	NEW ENGLAND	CAROLINA
Record	4-4	4-4
Divisional Standings	2nd	3rd
Total Yards Gained	2,837	2,628
Total Offense (Rank)	354.6 (15)	328.5 (25)
Rush Offense	101.1 (22)	114.5 (16)
Pass Offense	253.5 (13)	214.0 (28)
Points Per Game	25.8 (10)	20.6 (22)
Total Yards Allowed	2,823	2,365
Total Defense	352.9 (13)	295.6 (2)
Rush Defense	112.8 (16)	106.8 (13)
Pass Defense	240.1 (14)	188.9 (2)
Points Allowed/Game	20.5 (8)	19.9 (5)
Possession Avg.	30:00	32:25
Sacks Allowed/Yards Lost	15/118	24/135
Sacks Made/Yards	18/121	21/150
Passing TD/Int (off.)	10/6	7/8
Passing TD/Int (def.)	12/10	12/6
Total Touchdowns	21	17
Penalties Against/Yards	46/444	55/393
Punts/Avg.	27/44.0	40/38.5
Field Goals Made/Att.	20/21	15/17
Takeaway/Giveaway Ratio	+1 (13T)	-4 (23T)

 

[sharkymcwrath]

JC Jackson absent from practice on Wednesday. Not listed on the injury report as of yet.

Patriots missing No. 1 CB J.C. Jackson at practice ahead of Stephon Gilmore game

J.C. Jackson wasn't listed on the injury report last week.

www.masslive.com

 

[BigKen]

"He knows us, but more importantly, we know him,"

Jacobi Meyers says that Stephon Gilmore has practiced against the Patriots' WRs but they have also practiced against him, and they know what he does and how he does it. Meyers also said that the Patriots do not have a #1 main receiver and Gilmore will pretty much have to cover whoever is on his side of the field. "Maybe that receiver will be a decoy all day."

Warning, Warning, Warning!!!!!!!

Interesting things have been going on. Seems that no one noticed that several Patriots finished their on the practice field practice and were suddenly no where to be seen. Security was seen in front of the domed practice field. It's believed that Mac Jones Kristian Wilkerson, Jacobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne and N'Keal Harry were working routes and passes yesterday long after other had actually left the stadium.

Get this, BB and Josh have been very pleased with Harry's new attitude and public comments about being extremely happ y that he wasn't traded and will do everything in power to help the team be successful. That being said, Harry just might be the #1 target against the Panther on Sunday. His 6'3" 230 lb frame will be a load if he plays like he did in college. Harry also has enough speed to force the Panters to commit a safety to cover him over the top, even if Gilmore is on him. Look for Harry to get between 7-10 targets. If he catches anywhere between 5-7 of them, the Panthers may have to play more zone than man and that will open the middle for Henry and the sideline for Jonnu.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

"He knows us, but more importantly, we know him,"

Jacobi Meyers says that Stephon Gilmore has practiced against the Patriots' WRs but they have also practiced against him, and they know what he does and how he does it. Meyers also said that the Patriots do not have a #1 main receiver and Gilmore will pretty much have to cover whoever is on his side of the field. "Maybe that receiver will be a decoy all day."

Warning, Warning, Warning!!!!!!!

Interesting things have been going on. Seems that no one noticed that several Patriots finished their on the practice field practice and were suddenly no where to be seen. Security was seen in front of the domed practice field. It's believed that Mac Jones Kristian Wilkerson, Jacobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne and N'Keal Harry were working routes and passes yesterday long after other had actually left the stadium.

Get this, BB and Josh have been very pleased with Harry's new attitude and public comments about being extremely happ y that he wasn't traded and will do everything in power to help the team be successful. That being said, Harry just might be the #1 target against the Panther on Sunday. His 6'3" 230 lb frame will be a load if he plays like he did in college. Harry also has enough speed to force the Panters to commit a safety to cover him over the top, even if Gilmore is on him. Look for Harry to get between 7-10 targets. If he catches anywhere between 5-7 of them, the Panthers may have to play more zone than man and that will open the middle for Henry and the sideline for Jonnu.

Here's to hoping this is his break out game and it all starts to gel up for him.

As bad as he has been....or not existent enough to be good or bad...I would really like another homegrown WR to excel.

10 targets, a bunch of yards, a couple highlight reels and then in the second half the rest of the WR's are wide open.

 

[BigKen]

Panther Head Coach Matt Rule said at his press conference today:

McCaffrey is back but not 100%. He will be a game time decision
Sam Darnold is ready to play and the final decision will be made after Friday
Stephon Gilmore was not 100% last week and Will most likely only play on third down Sunday

Rule has been pretty straight forward about players this year. Some media people think he's not an NFL Coach and will most likely be back at Div.I within 3-5 years. Carolina media thinks he's to open about player injuries and ability to play.

 

[nefansince75]

Rule has been pretty straight forward about players this year.

If his lips were moving I don't take anything as perfectly straight forward from any coach.