Patriots and Panthers: A Rainy Preview of the NFL Season

The first preseason appearance of the New England Patriots against the Carolina Panthers provided a glimpse of what football fans might miss this season: few highlights and many errors. In a rain-affected game that ended with a 17-3 victory for the Patriots, punts and penalties dominated the proceedings, while the total score reached a modest 20 points. Despite a performance that did not suggest championship ambitions, individual performances were clearly the focus. One of the biggest disappointments was the lack of precision from the Patriots' offense. Within the first 17 plays, the team recorded four penalties, including two false starts in the first three drives. Teammate Chukwuma Okorafor got caught particularly early in the game. Quarterback Bailey Zappe surprisingly received a lot of playing time, participating in seven drives from the first to the third quarter, while Drake Maye, Jacoby Brissett, and Joe Milton were only sporadically on the field. Zappe's performance (12 of 20 passes for 108 yards) did not necessarily justify the extended playtime, as he has little chance of making the 53-man roster. A bright spot was the defense, particularly through Pharms Jr., who drew attention with a sack and forced penalties. Anfernee Jennings also made a splash by forcing a fumble and asserting himself in the backfield. Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte improved his chances of making the cut by recording three catches for 53 yards. However, the competition for roster spots remains challenging as he must compete against Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Reagor, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Another candidate for the 53-man roster is the undrafted rookie Quincy Pettus, who drew attention with physical play and solid performances last week. Nick Leverett, who replaced the injured David Andrews, also shone as a reliable centerpiece of the offensive line. The upcoming training session against the Philadelphia Eagles offers the Patriots the opportunity to reduce their error rate and set the right course for the season opener. Until then, fans can only hope that the upcoming games will offer more quality and fewer mistakes.