FOXBOROUGH — Coach Eddie Todd didn’t bother dressing it up. “We’ll take the win,” he said, shaking his head with the faintest grin after New England’s 49–37 shootout victory over Carolina. “But you give up 408 passing yards and five touchdowns, you don’t walk away satisfied.”
The numbers tell the story. The Patriots piled up 531 total yards — 236 on the ground, 295 through the air — and looked unstoppable for long stretches. The Panthers? Bryce Young carved up New England’s secondary for 408 yards and those five scores, though his one late interception sealed his fate. The Pats’ rush defense, however, was a wall, holding Carolina to just 77 rushing yards.
Drake Maye Grows Into His Role
If there was ever a “statement game” for Drake Maye, this was it. The second-year quarterback looked calm, precise, and downright clinical: 17 of 22 passing, 295 yards, three touchdowns, zero turnovers.
“I felt in rhythm from the first snap,” Maye said postgame. “Coach trusted me, guys were getting open, and the line gave me time. That’s all you can ask for.”
Coach Todd doubled down on the praise: “That’s the version of Drake we drafted him to be. Efficient, poised, no panic. You give him 77 percent completions with three scores? You’re going to win a lot of football games.”
Ground Game Erupts Behind Gibson and Henderson
The running backs took turns bullying Carolina’s defense. Antonio Gibson stole the show with 129 yards on just eight carries — including an 86-yard lightning bolt that brought the crowd to its feet. He added three touchdowns to cap his best performance in a Patriots uniform.
“I just saw green and hit it,” Gibson said of the long run. “Credit to the line — that hole was big enough to drive a truck through.”
Rookie TreVeyon Henderson chipped in 78 yards on 17 carries and his own touchdown. “Gibby set the tone, man,” Henderson said. “I just tried to keep the energy rolling.”
Diggs Delivers Veteran Presence
Stefon Diggs was once again the steady hand in the receiver room: four catches, 89 yards, and two scores.
“Drake’s confidence is growing, and that’s what matters,” Diggs said. “He trusts us. My job’s simple — get open, make the play, be that outlet. These young guys are watching, so I’ve got to set the standard.”
Kayshon Boutte (55 yards on three grabs) and tight end Hunter Henry (one touchdown catch) added complementary firepower, but Diggs was the one Maye leaned on when it mattered most.
Defensive Bright Spots Amid the Aerial Assault
Rookie strong safety Craig Woodson was all over the field, racking up 11 tackles with one for loss. “It wasn’t pretty in the secondary,” Woodson admitted. “But we kept fighting. We’ve got to clean it up, and we know it.”
Kyle Dugger and Marcus Jones each added seven tackles, while linebacker Marte Mapu authored the defensive play of the day — a fourth-quarter interception that killed Carolina’s last rally.
“That’s just film study and instincts,” Mapu said, holding onto the ball like a trophy. “Bryce is a baller. You don’t luck into five touchdowns. But in that moment, I knew what was coming.”
The front four chipped in too: Milton Williams logged 1.5 sacks, Keion White added another, and Christian Barmore picked up a half sack.
Panthers Prove Dangerous Despite Record
For all of New England’s celebration, Carolina deserves credit. Bryce Young looked like a star in the making, torching the Patriots with precision throws all game long. His main weapons, freshman phenom Tetairoa McMillan (163 yards) and Xavier Legette (142), were nearly unstoppable downfield.
“Bryce gave us everything we could handle,” Coach Todd admitted. “That’s a dangerous offense, no matter what their record says.”
Looking Ahead: Bills Week
The Patriots are now 2-2, and the road doesn’t get easier. A date with the Buffalo Bills looms next Sunday, and Coach Todd knows it’s no walk in the park. “Division game. Hard-fought game. That’s the expectation.”
Final Word
At 2–2, I don’t think we’ve found all the answers yet, but you can see the identity forming. This team wants to pound the ball on the ground, let Drake Maye grow into his franchise-QB shoes, and trust a young defense to bend but not break. There are still cracks in the secondary that need patching, but if you can win shootouts like this and run for over 200 yards, you’ve got something to build on. The Bills will test every bit of it next week — and we’ll learn real quick if this Patriots team is turning a corner or just hanging around .500.
