The New England Patriots squared off with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday evening at Gillette Stadium and walked out with a 17-Three victory in Jerod Mayo’s first NFL sport as a head coach.
Coming into the sport, there was intrigue surrounding how the quarterbacks had been going for use, with Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye each anticipated to start out sooner or later throughout the 2024 season. And, whereas their utilization was attention-grabbing all through the competition, it was stunning, to say the least.
Brissett obtained the beginning beneath heart on the workforce’s opening offensive drive of the evening after the protection pressured a three-and-out. He handed the ball off to Rhamondre Stevenson on the primary play, gaining 11 yards. Then, he threw three straight incompletions whereas focusing on Mitchell Wilcox, Tyquan Thornton and the sideline to finish the sequence.
That was it for the veteran.
With Maye getting into the sport subsequent after one other Panthers’ three-and-out, the Foxboro Trustworthy set free a raucous cheer.
The third total choose on this 12 months’s draft, handed the ball off to Antonio Gibson thrice for 2 yards and accomplished two of his three passes, one to Gibson on a display screen and one to Kevin Harris for 19 whole yards.
That was it for the rookie.
Third-string quarterback Bailey Zappe, the one participant on the place to return to the room from the 2023 season, obtained the subsequent eight drives. He accomplished 12 of his 20 makes an attempt for 108 yards, and his lone scoring drive was one which began in Carolina territory and ended with Harris punching it in from the 2-yard line.
Milton obtained the final three drives (actually two with the final drive being kneels) and led two scoring drives, the primary leading to a 42-yard area aim from Joey Slye and one other ending with a 38-yard landing cross to JaQuae Jackson.
With solely so many alternatives to get Maye and Brissett sport reps earlier than they really begin to depend, the Patriots selected to provide alternatives to 2 guys who’re at the least two quarterback accidents away from enjoying time.
Was it as a result of they’re going to see nearly all of the workforce’s offensive reps in subsequent week’s joint follow and sport towards the Eagles? Had been they afraid of their two greatest quarterbacks being left uncovered behind an offensive line that might not be as much as snuff? Had been they making an attempt to get one final prolonged have a look at Bailey Zappe in a dwell scenario earlier than making a choice on his future?
Regardless of the cause, this was the plan, and Mayo confirmed that that is what New England was seeking to do throughout the post-game press convention. It simply does not look like setting both Brissett or Maye up for the most effective probability for fulfillment going ahead.
Fortunately, the Patriots have two extra video games to get them alternatives, and in the event that they’re good, they’re going to use them a couple of drive in every of these exhibition contests.
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