WEEK 4 · Sun 09/28 · 1:00 PM EDT
Panthers
Carolina Panthers
AT
Patriots
New England Patriots
PATRIOTS: Game Release (PDF) | Roster | Depth Chart | Stats
PANTHERS: Roster | Depth Chart | Stats | Roster Flip Card (coming soon)
The New England Patriots will play at home for the second straight week when they host the Carolina Panthers this week at Gillette Stadium. Both teams enter the contest with 1-2 records and a chance to get to the .500 mark. Since 2000, the Patriots have a winning record against every NFL team except Carolina at 3-3, Green Bay at 3-3, San Francisco 3-3, Kansas City 6-6 and Seattle at 2-4.
SERIES HISTORY
The New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers will meet for the ninth time overall and for the first time since the Patriots took a 24-6 victory at Carolina on Nov. 7, 2021. The Panthers will visit Gillette Stadium in the regular season for the first time since taking a 33-30 win on Oct. 1, 2017.
Carolina leads the all-time regular season record 4-3 and is 2-1 overall in games played in Foxborough, including 1-1 at Gillette Stadium.
Since 2000, the Patriots have a winning record against every NFL team except Carolina at 3-3, Green Bay at 3-3, San Francisco 3-3, Kansas City 6-6 and Seattle at 2-4. The Patriots and Panthers met in Super Bowl XXXVIII on Feb. 1, 2004.
The Patriots-Panthers Super Bowl is widely believed to be among the most entertaining Super Bowls ever played, as the Panthers took a fourth-quarter lead only to see the Patriots come up with a game-winning field goal to clinch the see-saw battle in the final seconds.
SERIES TRENDS
Overall Record (including playoffs): 4-4
- Record in Foxborough: 1-2
- Record in Charlotte: 2-2
- Record in Houston: 1-0
Total Points in the Series: Patriots 198, Panthers 155
TALE OF THE TAPE
| 2025 REGULAR SEASON | NEW ENGLAND | CAROLINA |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Divisional Standings | 2nd | 2nd (T) |
| Total Yards Gained | 1,038 | 831 |
| Total Offense (Rank) | 346.0 (11) | 277.0 (24) |
| Rush Offense | 100.3 (19) | 90.7 (25) |
| Pass Offense | 245.7 (7) | 186.3 (23) |
| Points Per Game | 20.0 (21T) | 20.7 (19T) |
| Total Yards Allowed | 950 | 1,003 |
| Total Defense | 316.7 (17) | 334.3 (21) |
| Rush Defense | 60.3 (2) | 137.7 (25) |
| Pass Defense | 256.3 (29) | 196.7 (12) |
| Points Allowed/Game | 22.7 (18T) | 17.7 (8) |
| Possession Avg. | 32:23 | 31:24 |
| Sacks Allowed/Yards Lost | 12/48 | 5/44 |
| Sacks Made/Yards | 9/47 | 1/19 |
| Passing TD/Int (off.) | 5/2 | 4/3 |
| Passing TD/Int (def.) | 5/3 | 2/4 |
| Total Touchdowns | 7 | 7 |
| Penalties Against/Yards | 27/199 | 17/173 |
| Punts/Avg. | 9/48.8 | 7/45.1 |
| Field Goals Made/Att. | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Takeaway/Giveaway Ratio | -3 (26T) | -1 (20T) |
CONNECTIONS
FORMER PATRIOTS
Players
- CB Michael Jackson (2020)
Coach / Exec
- Sr. Defensive Asst. Dom Capers (2008)
FORMER PANTHERS
Coach / Exec
- Sr. Offensive Asst. Ben McAdoo (2022)
- Asst. Offensive Line Robert Kugler (2022-23)
- Tight Ends/Pass Game Coord. Thomas Brown (2023)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
- The Patriots have held their opponents under 65 yards rushing in each of the first three games of the season after holding Pittsburgh to 64 yards on the ground last week. The Patriots held Las Vegas to 60 yards and Miami to 61 yards. It is the first time holding the opponent under 65 yards rushing in the first three games since 2019 when the Patriots allowed 32 yards rushing vs Pittsburgh, 42 yards at Miami and 36 yards vs. the New York Jets in the first three games. If the Patriots hold Carolina under 100 yards rushing this week, it will be the second time in team history that they have held their opponent under 100 yards in the first four games of the season. The Patriots accomplished the feat in 1964. The Patriots join Cleveland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay as the only teams in 2025 to hold their first three opponents under 100 yards rushing.
- The Patriots held Pittsburgh to 64 yards rushing on 26 carries for a 2.5-yard average per carry. It marks the second time in 2025 that the Patriots held their opponent under 3 yards per carry. The Raiders were limited to 56 yards on 24 carries for a 2.3-yard average per carry in the season-opener. If the Patriots hold Carolina under a 3-yard average this week, it will mark the first time holding a team under a 3-yard average in back-to-back games since the 2023 season when they did so in three-straight games, holding the L.A. Chargers to a 1.2-yard average (12/3), the Steelers to a 2.9-yard average (12/7) and Kansas City to 2.2-yard average (12/17).
- A Patriots linebacker has registered an interception in back-to-back weeks with LB Marte Mapu recording an interception at Miami (9/14) and LB Robert Spillane recording an interception last week against Pittsburgh. If a Patriots linebacker registers a pick this week against Carolina, it will be the second time in team history that the Patriots have had a linebacker with an interception in three straight weeks. The Patriots had a linebacker intercept a pass in three straight games in 1980 – Nov. 10 at Houston – LB Mike Hawkins, Nov. 16 vs. the L.A. Rams – LB Steve Nelson and Nov. 23 vs. Baltimore – LB Steve Nelson. The most interceptions by linebackers in a season for the Patriots is 9 in 1980 and in 1968.
- Since 2000, the Patriots have a winning record against every NFL team except Carolina at 3-3, Green Bay at 3-3, San Francisco 3-3, Kansas City 6-6 and Seattle at 2-4. The Patriots can reduce that list from five teams to four teams with a victory this week against the Panthers.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hunter Henry (#85), Tight End
- TE Hunter Henry enters this week ranked fifth among New England tight ends with 2,370 receiving yards and needs 118 yards this week against Carolina to move past Jim Whalen into fourth place on the Patriots all-time list among tight ends.
- Henry finished with 8 receptions for 90 yards with 2 touchdowns last week at Pittsburgh. The last Patriots tight end with consecutive games with at least 8 receptions and at least 90 receiving yards was TE Rob Gronkowski in 2014 with 9 receptions for 149 yards vs. Chicago (10/26), followed by 9 receptions for 105 yards vs. Denver (11/2).
- Henry scored on two touchdown receptions last week against Pittsburgh. If he is on the receiving end of two touchdown receptions this week against Carolina, he will be the first Patriots tight end with consecutive games with two touchdown receptions since 2012 when Rob Gronkowski had 2 touchdowns vs. the New York Jets (10/21), followed by 2 touchdowns at St. Louis (10/28). Gronkowski was also the last Patriots player overall with 2 touchdown receptions in back-to-back weeks with his performances in those 2012 games.
Robert Spillane (#14), Linebacker
- LB Robert Spillane had his first interception as a member of the Patriots last week against Pittsburgh. If he gets a pick this week against Carolina, he will become the first Patriots player with an interception in back-to-back games since S Kyle Dugger in 2023 when he had an interception at Miami (10/29) and vs. Washington (11/5).
- If Spillane gets an interception this week, he will be the first Patriots linebacker with an interception in back-to-back weeks since LB Jamie Collins in 2016. Since 2000, Collins (2016), Jerod Mayo (2011) and Junior Seau (2007) are the only Patriots linebackers with a pick in back-to-back weeks.
- Spillane led the team with 15 total tackles last week at Carolina. If he records 10 total tackles this week at Buffalo, he will be the first Patriots player with 10-plus tackles in consecutive games since LB Ja'Whaun Bentley had a streak of three-straight games with 10 or more tackles in in 2022: 10 tackles at Arizona (12/12), 10 tackles at Las Vegas (12/18) and 11 tackles vs. Cincinnati (12/24). Spillane opened the 2024 season with a personal-best five straight 10-tackle games.
- The best two-game tackle total by a Patriots player is LB Jerod Mayo with 34 – 16 tackles at Miami (10/4/10) followed by 18 tackles vs. Baltimore (10/17/10). Spillane would need 19 tackles this week to match that mark.
Antonio Gibson (#4), Running Back
- RB Antonio Gibson returned a fourth quarter kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Miami (9/14). If Gibson returns a kick for a touchdown this week against Carolina, he will join Raymond Clayborn (3 in 1977), Brandon Tate (2 in 2010) and Kevin Faulk (2 in 2002) as the only players to have more than one kick returned for a touchdown in a single season for the Patriots.
PATRIOTS CONVERT FOUR FIRST DOWNS
The Patriots were 4-of-5 on fourth downs vs. Pittsburgh. The only times in team history they converted more was when they went 5-of-6 on fourth down vs. San Francisco (12/16/12) and 5-of-6 on fourth down vs. Buffalo (12/26/21).
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION: This week's game will be broadcast by FOX and can be seen locally on WFXT-TV Channel 25. Chris Myers will handle play-by-play duties with Mark Schlereth as the color analyst. Jennifer Hale will work from the sidelines. The game will be produced by Eric Mandia and directed by Scott Katz.
LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. A complete listing of the network's 33 stations can be found here. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. The games are produced by Marc Cappello.
For more ways to watch and stream the game, please visit our ways to watch guide.
