The New England Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 24-6 in a Week 9 game of key importance to both teams. Here are some quick takeaways on that critically important Patriots win. Each team entered the fray with a record of 4-4.
The first two Patriots offensive series were punctuated by four penalties, a sack taken, a batted down pass, and a bobbled catch by Jakobi Meyers that cost the team a first down. Great.
Thankfully, it got better. Let’s take a look at the performances of the offense and defense in more detail. First, their best unit, the defense.
New England Patriots defense comes up big
Sam Darnold, the former New York Jets first round pick, quarterbacked the Panthers’ offense, but the Patriots’ defense was more than up to the task.
A batted-down pass by Kyle Van Noy (his second in two games) snuffed out the Panthers’ first drive. A big play from a big-time player who’s emerging once again as a force at linebacker.
The New England Patriots defense was outstanding in the first half, smothering the Panthers’ offense and only bending after offensive turnovers.
Christian Barmore had two big batted-down passes in the game. One forced Carolina into a field goal after a fumble by Mac Jones gifted the Panthers prime field position. It saved points right there.
Barmore also forced Darnold out of the pocket and set up an 88-yard pick-six in the third quarter by who else, pick-artist cornerback, J.C. Jackson. Jackson would have another pick in the fourth quarter.
The rookie defensive lineman is continuing to excel, collapsing the pocket continually. The sky is the limit for him in the future. Simply stated, the Patriots’ defense is better with Barmore.
Barmore is a pile driver of an interior defensive lineman and is emerging as a true force unseen in the New England Patriots since Vince Wilfork.
One can’t overstate the importance of rookie Barmore’s contribution to the entire defense. He not only makes the defensive line a menace by collapsing the pocket, but he is also a threat to the running game.
In addition, his collapsing the pocket forces improvisation by opposing quarterbacks like Darnold today, and bad things can eventuate if that happens.
Matt Judon continued his excellence with yet another sack, his ninth of the season. That’s a sack a game. Doesn’t get much better than that.
One of the keys to a win was the defense’s ability to keep Panthers’ star Christian McCaffrey in check. To a great extent, they did, until he got a bit untracked late in the third quarter.
Yet, overall, the defense was the star of the game for the New England Patriots. If they had a clean game by the offense a shutout could have been the result.
They were that good and if they continue this play and the offense cleans up its turnover act, anything is possible.
New England Patriots make some costly gaffes on offense
Unfortunately, the offensive line was mistake-prone early in the game. Mac Jones was sacked twice in the first quarter as the refashioned offensive line underperformed big-time early in this one. One sack was accompanied by a lost Jones’ fumble.
Three penalties, two sacks, and a fumble in a quarter aren’t exactly what Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is looking for. It’s not gonna cut the mustard against truly top teams.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that Isaiah Wynn can’t get the job done at left tackle. The position has to be addressed, maybe even now if this team is to have any playoff chance. Wynn is being penalized too often and is putting Jones’ health in jeopardy too often as well.
The best option would be to play Trent Brown there if he ever comes back from his calf injury suffered in the first quarter of game one. If not, a move in the offseason is essential.
Jones threw a poor interception to who other than Stephon Gilmore, who had his second INT in two games after being kicked to the curb by the Patriots (an absolutely obtuse personnel decision).
Jones didn’t help things by throwing that pick and by losing the ball on a sack. Those are game-losing events and he has to clean them up fast if the Patriots have any chance at the playoffs.
The play-calling is also too predictable if Jones is under center in a one-back set. They run just about every time. In addition, they’re not running play-action nearly enough. The coaches need to clean their act up there as well.
The stars of the New England Patriots offense
In between that bundle of miscues, Mac Jones was sharp early on. Jones completed six of his first seven passes, 11 of 13 in the first half and 12 of 18 for the game. Fairly pedestrian.
Given time to pass, Jones was more like his usual self early after a less than stellar passing game against the Los Angeles Chargers last week.
Jones made some big mistakes but also drilled a laser to Hunter Henry with 24 seconds left on the clock in the first half to give the Patriots a 14-6 lead.
Yet a fumble on a sack and interceptions can’t continue. Jones also suffered two delays of the game penalties. Not acceptable.
Tailing off in the second half, Jones missed several throws by a lot. He has to be more consistent half to half. Yet, he got almost no contributions from his wide receivers.
The Patriots did nothing at the trade deadline to bolster that position or any other position for that matter. That lack of activity (unless they make a move for a released player perhaps) will probably cost them as they play tougher competition from here on out.
That notwithstanding, Jones is still looking like the best quarterback of his draft class to this point. His biggest flaw against Carolina was poor receivers and an uncharacteristically poor performance early on by his offensive line.
Rhamondre “Ram” (as in battering) Stevenson was stellar. He showed his stuff on a long gainer on a screen pass. And more on the ground. He’s living up to the advance billing.
Stevenson was advocated early and often here as a future star, and he didn’t disappoint against Carolina. Unfortunately, he got banged up in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. Hopefully, it’s not serious.
Why he has been on the shelf and used so little is a mystery and another obvious personnel gaffe by the coaching staff. Hopefully, they will start playing the rookie more. If healthy, he’ll deliver.
Damian Harris also continued his solid play with a touchdown run before also going out injured. Brandon Bolden also filled the “James White” role with aplomb, as he has done the past few weeks.
Bolden has occasioned another crow dining experience as this space expected nothing whatsoever from the veteran back. He has been a totally unexpected contributor when nothing was expected from him in this space, at all.
All in all, it was a convincing if not perfect win. And a win is a win. The Patriots are now 5-4 and in the thick of the playoff hunt. Welcome back to a winning record.