Panthers 33, Patriots 30 (Final)

Oct 1, 2017 • 11:11 am

FOXBOROUGH -- Carolina kicker Graham Gano connected on a 48-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Panthers past the Patriots, 33-30, Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

The kick at the buzzer capped a wild afternoon for both teams, as there were multiple lead changes in the run up to the dramatic finish.

Tom Brady was 32-for-45 for 307 yards with two touchdowns (one to Chris Hogan and one to Danny Amendola) in the loss. Meanwhile, Cam Newton carried Carolina on his back, finishing 22-for-29 for 316 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Kelvin Benjamin had four catches for 104 yards in the win for the Panthers.

The Patriots were in command early, taking leads of 10-3 and 13-10. But the Panthers edged in front for the first time late in the second quarter when Newton found Devin Funchess with a 10-yard scoring strike that came with just under 30 seconds left in the half. It put the capper on a miserable stretch for the New England secondary that included multiple breakdowns, and made it 17-10.

The Panthers stretched their lead to 30-16 at the start of the final quarter before a pair of fourth-quarter scores from New England knotted the game at 30 — Dion Lewis went in front eight yards out, and Amendola added a one-yard touchdown grab with 3:09 left in regulation. That set the stage for the crazy finish, which was sparked by Newton. He led Carolina on the game-winning drive that took 10 plays and went 46 yards, and ended with Gano’s kick as time expired.

Game updates from Price...

4:02 p.m.: Kick is good. Carolina wins it, 33-30.

4:00 p.m.: So they're going for the field goal.

3:58 p.m.: This has been a brutal afternoon for the New England secondary.

3:57 p.m.: 47 seconds left and the Panthers have it at the Patriots' 41.

3:55 p.m.: Why are the Panthers going deep there?

3:51 p.m.: Second penalty of the day on Gilmore.

3:48 p.m.:

3:46 p.m.: Again, Amendola. Touchdown Patriots, and the game is tied with 3:09 to go. Remember that missed extra point earlier in the game?

3:45 p.m.: Josh McDaniels emptying the playbook this afternoon.

3:43 p.m.: On third down, it's Amendola.

3:41 p.m.: Too much time here if you're Carolina.

3:37 p.m.: Starting to feel a momentum shift here, as the Panthers prep for a punt. 7:49 remaining in regulation. Hightower with the big sack.

3:36 p.m.: The Patriots D faces another test here, as the crowd chants "DEE-FENSE!"

3:29 p.m.: An eight-yard touchdown run from Lewis cuts the lead to 30-23 with just under nine minutes to play. Now, it's on the defense again.

3:27 p.m.: Gronkowski picks up the first down.

3:26 p.m.: Pats over midfield, but the Panthers appear content to trade clock for yardage, at least at this point. Just over 10 minutes to go.

3:20 p.m.: Seven-yard touchdown run for Newton, and it's 30-16 after the extra point. 12:28 left in regulation.

3:18 p.m.: No answers in big situations for the Patriots defense. At first glance, breakdowns appear to be coming in the secondary.

3:14 p.m.: End of the third quarter. 23-16, Carolina.

3:13 p.m.: Second penalty of the year on Flowers.

3:13 p.m.: Roberts (ankle) is questionable to return for the Patriots.

3:10 p.m.: Penalty on Jonathan Jones there on that punt. His second of the season.

3:02 p.m.: Newton to Funchess from 16 yards out. Extra-point is no good -- 23-16 with 2:47 left.

3:02 p.m.: Another third-down breakdown there on defense. Another first down for the Panthers.

3:00 p.m.: Third flag of the year on Gilmore. First down for Carolina.

2:56 p.m.: Elandon Roberts is down at the end of that scramble for Newton that resulted in a first down. He's walking it off now.

2:53 p.m.: James White has seven catches for 27 yards. Gives you an idea of New England's overall offensive philosophy this afternoon. (Of course, Carolina has something to do with that too. But you get my drift.)

2:50 p.m.: Man, that was not the drive New England was looking for. Failed to take advantage of a possible momentum change. Greg had that punt at 4.21.

2:49 p.m.: The Pats announce that Rowe has a groin injury, and his return is questionable.

2:47 p.m.: This is New England's death-by-a-thousand-cuts passing game.

2:44 p.m.: Fumble, and the ball goes back to the Patriots. Nice punch out by Flowers and scoop by Roberts. There's a defensive spark. Maybe?

2:40 p.m.: The defense has to start figuring stuff out here, particularly on the back end. Eric Rowe has to be helped off the field.

2:38 p.m.: Hey, Dan Marino...at the start of the second half, what's the point differential between the two teams?

2:23 p.m.: A 58-yard field goal attempt is good. From wayyyyy downtown. 17-16 at the end of the first half. It's the longest in franchise history and longest of Gostkowski's career.

2:19 p.m.: In fact, when you add in the missed tackle from Rowe that allowed Carolina to pick up that first, that was a downright ugly series for the defensive backs. Yikes.

2:18 p.m.: Bad back-to-back sequence there for the New England secondary as the Panthers take the 17-13 lead with 26 seconds left in the half. Oof.

2:17 p.m.: First catch of the day for Benjamin. Really smartly executed play by the Carolina offense -- he kind of got lost in the wash.

2:14 p.m.: As we hit the two-minute warning, McCaffrey has 32 yards from scrimmage (nine rushing, 23 receiving) this afternoon.

2:12 p.m.: Bad whiff there by Rowe that allowed the Panthers to get the first.

2:07 p.m.: Gillislee with eight carries for 34 yards. Brady is 15-for-21 for 135 yards and a touchdown. And Gronkowski has two catches for 60 yards.

2:06 p.m.: Second field goal of the day for Gostkowski, good from 35 yards. 13-10 with 4:30 left in the half.

2:03 p.m.: Guessing that 43-yarder will be the longest play we'll see in the first half for the Patriots. Gronk is just so unfair sometimes. Meanwhile, Brady is 15-for-19 for 135 yards and a touchdown.

2:01 p.m.: So there's your answer to short-yardage issues -- keep it yourself. Pats pick up the first down.

2:00 p.m.: Brady has completed 13 passes, but is still yet to go over 100 yards in the air (94).

1:58 p.m.: Just a reminder...the Panthers get the ball at the start of the second half.

1:54 p.m.: The Panthers had a lot of people wide open on that play. Newton chose Whittaker, and he went the distance. Tie game with 9:41 left in the second quarter.

.@Panthers tie it up in New England!@FozzyWhitt takes the screen pass 28 yards for the TD! #KeepPounding #CARvsNE pic.twitter.com/lV1qYtRQC4

— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2017