Experts share their picks for the Patriots Week 4 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Mike Reiss, ESPN:
Pick: Patriots 30, Panthers 13
Better ball security and a faster start are the obvious key areas for first-year head coach Mike Vrabel's team to record what has been mostly elusive since the start of the 2023 season – a home win.
Stephania Bell, ESPN: Patriots
Matt Bowen, ESPN: Patriots
Mike Clay, ESPN: Patriots
Chris Fowler, ESPN: Panthers
Dan Graziano, ESPN: Patriots
Kalyn Kahler, ESPN: Panthers
Pamela Maldonado, ESPN: Panthers
Eric Moody, ESPN: Patriots
Jason Reid, ESPN: Patriots
Lindsey Thiry, ESPN: Patriots
Seth Wickersham, ESPN: Patriots
NFL.com
Ali Bhanpuri, NFL.com: Patriots 24, Panthers 18
Brooke Cersosimo, NFL.com: Patriots 19, Panthers 17
Dan Parr, NFL.com: Patriots 24, Panthers 21
Gennaro Filice, NFL.com: Patriots 29, Panthers 16
Tom Blair, NFL.com: Patriots 22, Panthers 19
Why Dan picked the Patriots: I'm looking for a team to trust here and I don't like my options. Maybe the Panthers have turned a corner after bouncing back from a rough start to shut out the Falcons last week. And perhaps the Patriots are a mess, with little ability to get out of their own way when it comes to turning the ball over and committing penalties. I'm going to guess the truth lies somewhere in the middle, and it could make for a tight game. Mike Vrabel should have his team highly motivated to avoid the 0-3 start at home and prove last week’s ugliness was a fluke. There seems to be optimism that Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez -- a second-team All-Pro last season -- will make his 2025 debut after missing the first three games with a hamstring injury. If he can limit the impact of Panthers rookie standout Tetairoa McMillan -- who ranks sixth in the league in receiving yards share (35.8%, per NGS) -- Carolina is going to have a hard time gaining much traction through the air. Bryce Young has still won only one road game in 15 tries as a starter.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports:
Pick: Patriots 27, Panthers 20
Carolina was impressive in shutting out the Falcons last week, while the Patriots lost at home to the Steelers. They turned the ball over to cost them that game. I think they take care of it much better in this one and Drake Maye and the offense get it going against the Panthers defense. Pats take it.
Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports: Patriots
Jared Dubin, CBS Sports: Patriots
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: Patriots
John Breech, CBS Sports: Patriots
Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports: Patriots
Dave Richard, CBS Sports: Patriots
Jamey Eisenburg, CBS Sports: Patriots
Pro Football Talk
Mike Florio: Patriots 24, Panthers 13
Chris Simms: Patriots 27, Panthers 17
Paul Perillo, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 27, Panthers 13
Defense and the ground game lead to a home victory.
Mike Dussault, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 23, Panthers 17
This is a huge opportunity for the Patriots to break their two-game home losing streak before heading on the road for three consecutive games. The Panthers are banged up, but they should have plenty of confidence; they've outscored their opponents 43-0 over the last five quarters. For the Patriots, it all starts with cutting down on the turnovers. They have the talent to secure a much-needed win, and Week 4 is the perfect spot to start putting it all together.
Evan Lazar, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 20, Panthers 14
If the Patriots want to make some noise this season, they have to start taking care of business at home against teams like Carolina. The Pats play a cleaner game and hold off a Panthers rally.
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
