What is the story about?
That was OK, I guess.
It’s been a while since the Patriots blew a team out of the water and we all got to relax in the second half, so this was one of the more enjoyable viewing experiences I’ve had in a while. This was exactly what I was hoping to see and the kind of game that this team needed in the worst way, given how last week went down.
So let’s get to it.
- It’s silly to call this a must-win game, given that it’s Week 4, but this was a must-win game. The Patruots are a better team than the Panthers, and if they couldn’t beat this Caroline team at home, there would be serious hell to pay. Plus, the Patriots are going on the road to Buffalo for a primetime game against the Bills; I can’t see them winning that one. And if there’s a bigger gap separating one game that 2-3 vs. 1-4, I don’t know what it is. So good for the Patriots for getting it done.
- Given the way this game started, with the Panthers driving 76 yards in seven plays for the score where they didn’t need a single third down to find the end zone, I don’t think you should give yourself a hard time if you were kind of sweating this one out at the start.
- Particularly considering how the Patriots went three and out on their opening offensive possession and were lucky to get out of that drive with a punt. I legit thought that was going to be a pick and that Carolina was going to be up 13-0 before the Pats even really had a chance to take the field.
- However, after that opening Panthers drive, it was all New England, kicked off by an 87-yard Marcus Jones punt return that completely flipped the script on the entire game.
- Honestly, after that return, it was like the Panthers finally realized that they were the Panthers and didn’t do a damn thing for the rest of the game.
- To that end it’s easy to look at New England’s opponent and not put too much stock into this win. And if the Patriots had pulled out a 16-4 victory, you might have a case. But 42-13 with the final Carolina score coming well into garbage time is a very solid result and exactly what you hope to see from a Patriots team playing a squad that isn’t quite in their league.
- New England did everything you wanted them to do in this game. No turnovers. 100+ yards on the ground. 14 of 17 through the air for 203 yards and two scores from Maye. Seven different Patriots caught at least one pass, with Stefon Diggs having his best game as a Patriot. The offense moved the ball efficiently, effectively, and with purpose.
- Don’t look now, but Hunter Henry has spent the last few seasons carving himself out as one of this team’s all-time tight ends. Gronk and Ben Coates are both in a league of their own – but who has been better than Henry over the past 20 years besides those two? Ben Watson. Aaron Hernandez?
- In his last three games, Drake Maye has thrown for 788 yards with 8 TDs, 1 pick, and 85% completion rate, and a 125.2 passer rating. That’s OK I guess.
- I spent a decent amount of time, and exactly zero minutes of research, trying to think of the last Patriots game that was over by halftime and we all got to spend the second half just relaxing and enjoying the experience. The 2020 game against the Chargers immediately came to mind, but maybe there was another in between this one and that one that I have long since forgotten.
- There wasn’t one play, or a series of plays, that really stood out in this game, perhaps other than the Marcus Jones punt return. It was just good, solid, efficient play on both sides of the ball where everyone did their job and the team got a group win.
- The real question, then, is can this team build off of the momentum generated from this win. This was exactly what we were all hoping to see this week. I don’t have anything negative to say about this team outside of that opening Carolina drive, and I’m hoping I’ll be able to say the same this time next week after the Bills game. Wins and losses don’t matter all that much this year, it’s more a matter of how they look from whistle to whistle. And if they can keep up what we saw yesterday, I’ll happily lump them in with the other 12-13 AFC teams that also kind of stink but are also goo enough to maybe sneak into the playoffs.
- You’ll notice that this week’s Fan Notes are a little sparse, and that’s because I’m writing them from the living room of my parents’ house in Connecticut after I attended this one in person with my old man. My dad and I have been to at least one Patriots game together since 2000, and it’s something I wouldn’t trade for the world. I’m in my mid-40s now, and he’s in his 70s, so I know that I don’t have all that many Pats games left to attend with him before that inevitable year where I buy two tickets but I’m only occupying one seat. So I hope you’ll forgive me if I didn’t spend my usual time taking notes and analyzing the game. I was too busy spending time with the strongest, greatest, most badass man I’ll ever know, and if this weekly column suffers a bit because of it, it’s a tradeoff I’ll make 1,000 times out of 1,000.
Can the Patriots beat Buffalo on Sunday night? Actually yes. Will they beat Buffalo on Sunday night? Probably not. But they’re starting to
establish themselves. Can’t ask for much more than that.
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