BSJ Game Report: Patriots 21, Packers 17 (Susp.) - Mixed bag for New England before game called after Isaiah Bolden injury

Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ preseason win over the Packers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Isaiah Bolden carted off field, game suspended: With 10:29 left in the fourth quarter, rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden appeared to get hit on the head by the thigh of linebacker Calvin Munson on a typical football play — a 5-yard slant. Bolden immediately went down and both teams ended up surrounding the cart as he was taken off and to a local hospital.

The Patriots released a statement: "Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden sustained an injury during the fourth quarter of tonight’s game. He had feeling in all his extremities, but has been taken to a local hospital for further tests and observation."

The latest update: "Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden will be held overnight at a local hospital in Green Bay for observation. "

"I think the last situation kind of, in the bigger picture, overrode the game so we're all saying a prayer for Isaiah," Bill Belichick said after the game. "That's all the information, the updated information that we have. Appreciated the way the league handled it. I think that was the right thing to do. ... We're keeping our fingers crossed."

Bolden was making a real run at making this team. Obviously that's secondary.

"He's been a joy to be around," captain Matthew Slater said of Bolden to reporters. "He's a young man with a lot of talent, always has a smile on his face, is always positive, is always bringing great energy and effort to practice. ... All the guys love him. He's fit into our locker room seamlessly."

Starters play about a quarter: The starters on both sides of the ball, minus the injury concerns, played in this one and it was a mixed bag.

The defense got a gift turnover from the Packers on the first series, and turned it into a touchdown in 5 plays and 21 yards on a Rhamondre Stevenson 1-yard plunge. The big play was a 13-yard pass from Mac Jones to Kendrick Bourne for 13 yards. Packers defensive holding against DeVante Parker on third and goal set up the touchdown.

The next two Jones series ended on sacks — one allowed by rookie Sidy Sow, and a strip-sack allowed by Andrew Stueber. Jones finished 6 of 9 for 52 yards and just missed Parker on a long pass (appeared Parker should have caught it). Jones and Hunter Henry had a miscommunication on a seam pass. Henry turned in, Jones threw it to the outside.

This was a great throw and catch under pressure on Jones to Bourne.

The Patriots defense allowed 42 yards on nine carries (4.7 average) in the first quarter. Packers had 256 total yards in the first half — 94 rushing and 162 passing. Packers starter Jordan Love was 8 of 11 for 78 yards.

Bailey Zappe (10 of 22, 117 yards) led two long scoring drives of 85 and 88 yards. The big play was a 42-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte on a slant thanks to poor coverage from the Packers corner and safety. 

Elliott, Mapu, Bentley, White don't play: The did not play list from the official gamebook — LB 8 J.Bentley, WR 11 T.Thornton, WR 14 T.Montgomery, RB 15 E.Elliott, QB 19 T.McSorley, DB 22 C.Davis, DB 25 Ma.Jones, LB 30 M.Mapu, CB 31 Jo.Jones, RB 35 P.Strong, RB 37 C.Marable, LB 51 R.Perkins, DE 58 T.Flowers, OL 66 K.Russey, OL 69 C.Strange, OL 71 M.Onwenu, OT 72 M.Vanterpool, OL 75 C.McDermott, OL 76 C.Anderson, TE 88 M.Gesicki, DE 99 K.White.

Marcus Jones not playing was strange, but he must be dinged up with the rest. Keion White hurt his ankle on Thursday. 

FOUR UP

WR Kendrick Bourne: Had three catches on four targets for 34 yards. Jones is obviously comfortable with him and he brings some energy to this offense.

RB JJ Taylor: Had seven touches for 56 yards and made several people miss. He also bailed out OT Andrew Stueber on a block and caught a pass on the same play.

CB Christian Gonzalez: Thought he played way more physical in this one, which shows he takes coaching and can improve week to week. Had a good open-field tackle and should have caused an interception but he got jobbed on a DPI call.

P Bryce Baringer: Rebounded big-time with punts of 59 yards (5.07 hangtime), 61 yards (4.76).

FOUR DOWN

OT Andrew Stueber: Allowed a blindside strip-sack of Jones that looked similar to the Trent Brown play in the opener against the Dolphins last year. Scary. Stueber had a rough time all night. Patriots have no depth with Conor McDermott hurt and Riley Reiff starting at guard.

Defensive line: Got gashed in the run game for a while and the official book has zero sacks and zero QB hits.

RT Sidy Sow: Pretty good in the run game but his pass blocking needs a lot of work. Got rag-dolled on the third-down sack of Jones.

DE Sam Roberts: Had two pretty big penalties.

TOP PLAYS

INJURIES

Isaiah Bolden (head): Was carted off the field and taken to a hospital.

Tre Nixon (shoulder): Looked to sustain a serious injury and did not return.

TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

Good first step for Mac Jones, offense: The offensive line is very undermanned and it wasn't perfect by any stretch, but I thought it was a good first step for the offense and gave us a taste of what we might see later with RPOs, play action and some trick plays.

Not worried about the run defense ... yet: Really didn't like Lawrence Guy and Josh Uche (TD) getting worked by rookie TE Luke Musgrave, or that the Patriots kept giving up chunk runs with the starters, but with no Ja'Whaun Bentley out there to make sure everyone is lined up right, I'm not overly concerned.