FOXBOROUGH — Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ 10-3 win over the Panthers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Starting defense dominates: We've been touting the defense all summer and we finally got a glimpse of the group — minus Patrick Chung — on Thursday night and it was impressive. The Patriots allowed just 29 total yards on 17 plays (1.7 average) and the Panthers were 0-for-5 on third downs. Cam Newton got knocked from the game after four passes and Kyle Allen got the call. The first group also had three sacks: Adam Butler (with an assist from Terrence Brooks), Kyle Van Noy and Michael Bennett. Panthers quarterbacks combined to go 6 of 10 for 41 yards and three sacks (69.2 rating).
Brady, passing offense choppy: Tom Brady got his first game action, with Phillip Dorsett and Jakobi Meyers as his top receivers, and it was very much a work in progress, as expected. I mean, what can you really expect when so many projected starters — Julian Edelman, N'Keal Harry, Josh Gordon, Demaryius Thomas, etc. — are not even suited up. Brady had a lot of issues getting on the same page with Meyers, almost from the first series (0 for 3 on targets) and looked visibly frustrated. It didn't take Brady long to start looking solely at Dorsett through the air (7 for 7 targets, 47 yards). It was interesting that Jarrett Stidham was called on after the touchdown drive to sub for Brady and not Brian Hoyer. But the Patriots know what they have in Hoyer.
Injuries take their toll: A number of Patriots players left at some point with an injury, with Brandon King needing to be carted off with a left knee injury. Among the wounded: RB Damien Harris, LB Kyle Van Noy (left calf), TE Ben Watson (head), S Nate Ebner. Van Noy and Ebner returned.
SECOND GUESS
These referees are really scrutinizing the inside blocking, especially on running plays. There must have been about six nice runs called back for holding and most if not all of them looked like good blocks where the blocker was simply controlling the defender. Gotta let these guys make some blocks.
THREE UP
RB Sony Michel: His stat line (seven carries, 29 yards, 4.1 average) looked better in the first quarter before three carries inside the 8-yard line went for a total of 2 yards (10 for 36 overall), but stats lie (Michel had two carries for 38 yards called back by penalty). Michel, in his first game action this summer, looked like a much-improved player. He still ran with the same power and ability to break tackles, but he looked lighter, quicker and more agile. That definitely bodes well for this season, and also for those of us who didn't think he was the greatest thing since sliced bread last year — he had a much higher ceiling.
WR Phillip Dorsett: There are a bunch of bright and shiny new toys for Brady to work with (eventually), but there's something to be said for the steady veteran who knows what he's doing, and Dorsett's 7 catches on 7 targets was an example of that and shows why he just might make this team again.
OT Isaiah Wynn: It was one thing for Wynn to get his feet wet last week against marginal types, it was quite another for him to perform against a good and physical Panthers defense. Wynn seemed to be rock-solid against the Panthers. Stacking success now.
THREE DOWN
OG James Ferentz: Has had a really rough preseason and appeared to give up at least another sack and a quarterback hit. Could be falling behind Ted Karras.
OG Hjalte Froholdt: Also appeared to struggle in pass protection (sack, hit) and in the ground game (at least one run stuff).
WR Jakobi Meyers (with Brady): While he finished the game with seven catches for 74 yards, he had a rough quarter-plus with Brady. Meyers was 0 for 3 on targets, including one where he stopped running on a play Brady clearly thought was there, and dropping a pass off his shoulders. Oh, and he had a holding penalty.
INJURIES
LB Kyle Van Noy (left leg): Returned to game.
LB Brandon King (left knee): Left on a cart surrounded by his teammates.
S Nate Ebner (unknown): Returned to game.
RB Damien Harris (unknown)
WR Gunner Olszewski (head)
TE Lance Kendricks (head)
TOP PLAYS
Michael Bennett first sack.
TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
That Brian Hoyer didn't play at all ... doesn't feel good for him: I can totally understand Jarrett Stidham getting the first opportunity after Brady left the game, and not playing Hoyer in garbage time. But it was sure strange that Hoyer didn't even get a series in this game because you figure Stidham is going to play the entire fourth game. If Hoyer plays in that game, it's a really bad sign. But right now, it feels like Stidham will be the sole backup. Seems like he passed this test again.
Don't freak out about Jake Bailey as the holder: When TV replays showed that Bailey spun the laces in — everyone who's seen Ace Ventura Pet Detective knows the laces need to be out — Twitter freaked out and requested a new holder be brought in. Bailey is like any other rookie, he needs work and he'll get here. If he can't, then Belichick will make a move.
