FOXBORO — After a fracas-filled week of apply, the Patriots and Panthers settled for a wrestling match Friday night time.
The Pats received their second preseason recreation, a bodily 20-10 end at Gillette Stadium. Mac Jones steered the beginning offense right into a pair of three-and-outs earlier than reaching the top zone on his third and remaining drive of the night time. He completed 4-of-8 for 61 yards, together with a 45-yard bomb to Nelson Agholor within the second quarter.
Three performs after they linked, veteran receiver/operating again Ty Montgomery rushed in a 2-yard landing. Kickers Nick Folk and Tristan Vizcaino every drilled a discipline objective within the center quarters. Vizcaino’s 51-yarder within the third proved to be the game-winner.
After Jones exited with a 7-3 lead within the second quarter, backup quarterback Brian Hoyer led one collection that stumbled right into a punt. Rookie Bailey Zappe (16-of-25, 173 yards, INT) took over close to the 2-minute warning and performed the remainder of the sport.
Offensive line coach Matt Patricia referred to as performs from begin to end.
Carolina’s solely landing got here off a Zappe pick-six within the third quarter. Zappe rolled left and fired into Tae Hayes’ tight 1-on-1 protection alongside the sideline, then misplaced his helmet as he tried to cease Hayes with 3:43 left within the third quarter.
Defensively, linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley tied for the group lead with six tackles regardless of enjoying simply three collection. Deatrich Wise and Josh Uche tallied sacks on back-to-back snaps within the first quarter. Undrafted rookie linebacker DaMarcus Mitchell knocked the Panthers out with a strip sack in the long run zone at 1:17 remaining, a fumble he recovered and scored himself.
Outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings additionally dropped Carolina’s P.J. Walker for a sack within the fourth quarter, when Ronnie Perkins and Jeremiah Phrams Jr. break up one.
Backup security Joshuah Bledsoe compelled and recovered a fumble on the finish of the second quarter, earlier than fellow reserve Shaun Wade grabbed a freebie interception on the Panthers’ opening drive of the second half and undrafted rookie Brenden Schooler snatched his personal within the remaining minute.
The Patriots offense went to work shorthanded, with offensive sort out Trent Brown and vast receiver Kendrick Bourne lacking for causes unknown. Their absences compounded issues alongside the offensive line, the place the Pats have been already down 5 gamers, plus tight finish Hunter Henry. Issues in cross safety revealed themselves virtually instantly when Panthers linebacker Julian Stanford sacked Mac Jones to kill the Patriots’ opening drive.
On their second collection, Rhamondre Stevenson rushed up the center for a brief acquire, Jones overthrew Jakobi Meyers and did not hit Stevenson popping out of the backfield. Carolina answered by breaking the scoreless tie with Zane Gonzalez’s 27-yard discipline objective late within the first quarter. Then, lastly, on their third possession, Jones and Co. established a rhythm.
Facing third-and-5, Jones hit Agholor for seven yards to maneuver the chains, then handed off to Montgomery for six, discovered Montgomery within the left flat for 5 extra and uncorked a high-arching to Agholor down the left sideline that lined half the sector. That connection pulled the Patriots contained in the purple zone, the place Montgomery capped the drive with a pair onerous runs.
Here have been one of the best and worst Patriot performances from Friday:
Best
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley The chief of the linebacking corps totaled six tackles in simply three collection, together with one TFL on a display he blew up for a 4-yard loss.
WR Nelson Agholor Agholor’s 45-yard catch within the second quarter is the spotlight of the group’s preseason to this point. He additionally transformed a 3rd down earlier within the drive with a 7-yard reception from Mac Jones.
S Brenden Schooler The undrafted rookie recorded one interception, a particular groups sort out and downed a punt at Carolina’s 3-yard line.
Worst
Running recreation The Patriots labored on the line of scrimmage no matter who took carries.
WR Josh Hammond Hammond noticed three targets and didn’t catch one. He was the one wideout to see a cross and never end with a reception.
Source: www.bostonherald.com