FOXBOROUGH, MA. (BLACK & BLUE KICKOFF LIVE) — The Panthers will try to make it two in a row on Sunday when they face the Patriots on the road.
Last week’s win wasn’t an ordinary win. It was a shutout, at home, against a division rival. A type of win that should inspire confidence in the locker room.
In a game where the Panthers forced three turnovers, the defense should be licking their chops going into this week 4 matchup against a Patriots squad that lost the ball five(!) times last week in a loss against the Steelers.
The Panthers’ defense was a bit of a question mark coming into the season and after allowing 53 points through the team’s first two games. But it started to come together against the Falcons in the home opener, allowing zero points for the first time since 2020.
Charlotte-native second-year quarterback Drake Maye out of UNC has been good at the start of the 2025 season. He’s thrown the fifth most yards (785) and the second highest completion percentage (72.6%) among players who have attempted at least 50 passes.
The Patriots’ rushing offense will be something to monitor. They fumbled four times last week, and head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed veteran running back Rhamondre Stevenson will still start over rookie Treyvon Henderson in week 4 after being responsible for two of their fumbles.
For Bryce Young, he’ll be without some key weapons in Foxborough. While Tetairoa McMillan and Chubba Hubabrd are expected to play, the team has already ruled out Exavier Leggette and Ja’Tavion Sanders. Rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. could see his first real in-game action against the Patriots.
As for #Panthers receivers on the field today, that group includes Jimmy Horn Jr.@CSLonQCN #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/JQpNIcO0Hu
— Gabe McDonald (@GabeMcDonald_) September 24, 2025
Matchup notes
🏈 The teams from Super Bowl XXXVIII meet for the ninth time on Sunday, in a matchup that’s been won four times by each team.
🏈 The Panthers lost the previous meeting in 2021, 24-6.
🏈 Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is from Charlotte and graduated from Myers Park High School before playing football at UNC.
🏈 Betting odds according to FanDuel: Panthers +5.5 (-110) and +210 moneyline; over/under at 43.5.
Sunday’s game between the Carolina Panthers and the New England Patriots starts at 1 p.m. in Gillette Stadium on Queen City News.
