Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats
The Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots match player stats from September 28, 2025, tell a much more detailed story than the final score alone. New England defeated Carolina 42-13 at Gillette Stadium, but the game was not simply a case of one offense piling up yards while the other failed to move the ball. Carolina actually finished with more total offensive plays, more first downs, more rushing yards, and more time of possession. The decisive difference was efficiency, explosive plays, red-zone execution, and special teams production.
For readers studying individual performances, the numbers provide several useful contrasts. Drake Maye completed 14 of 17 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, while Bryce Young completed 18 of 30 for 150 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Stefon Diggs led all receivers with 101 yards, Chuba Hubbard led Carolina’s rushing attack with 49 yards, and Marcus Jones produced the game’s biggest special teams play with an 87-yard punt-return touchdown.
The Patriots’ 42-point performance also came from remarkable scoring efficiency. New England went 4-for-4 in the red zone and scored six touchdowns, including three rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns, and one punt-return touchdown. Carolina went 2-for-2 in the red zone but could not create enough scoring opportunities to keep pace.
Game Overview and Final Score
The game was played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on September 28, 2025. It was Week 4 of the regular season. The Patriots entered the contest at 1-2, while Carolina was 1-2 after defeating Atlanta in Week 3. New England ultimately moved to 2-2 with the 42-13 victory, while Carolina fell to 1-3.
Score by Quarter
| Quarter | Carolina Panthers | New England Patriots |
| 1st | 6 | 7 |
| 2nd | 0 | 21 |
| 3rd | 0 | 7 |
| 4th | 7 | 7 |
| Final | 13 | 42 |
The second quarter was the turning point. New England scored 21 points in that period, transforming a relatively close first quarter into a 28-6 halftime advantage. The Patriots then added another touchdown in each of the final two quarters.
Carolina’s scoring pattern was almost the opposite. The Panthers scored six points in the opening quarter and then went scoreless in the second and third quarters before adding seven points in the fourth.
That scoring distribution matters because it shows how quickly the game moved away from Carolina. The Panthers were not shut out offensively for the entire afternoon, but they struggled to turn their possessions into points during the most important stretch of the game.
Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats: Passing
Passing efficiency was one of the clearest differences between the teams.
Bryce Young’s Passing Performance
Bryce Young finished with:
- 18 completions
- 30 attempts
- 150 passing yards
- 5.0 yards per attempt
- 1 passing touchdown
- 0 interceptions
- 1 sack for 11 yards
- 48.4 QBR
- 84.0 passer rating
The raw completion percentage was 60%, which is respectable by itself. The bigger problem was the lack of efficiency per completion and per attempt.
Young averaged only 5.0 yards per attempt. That meant Carolina needed a large number of plays to generate meaningful offensive production. The Panthers finished with 65 offensive plays, compared with only 48 for New England, yet New England still scored 42 points.
Young was also not responsible for every Carolina passing yard. Andy Dalton entered the game and completed 5 of 6 attempts for 58 yards and a touchdown. Dalton’s passer rating was 146.5, while his QBR was listed at 100.0.
That makes the team passing line more informative:
Carolina team passing: 23 completions on 36 attempts, 197 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
The Panthers avoided turnovers through the air, but they did not generate enough explosive passing production to compensate for New England’s scoring efficiency.
Drake Maye’s Passing Performance
Drake Maye produced one of the most efficient quarterback performances of the game.
His line:
- 14 completions
- 17 attempts
- 203 yards
- 11.9 yards per attempt
- 2 passing touchdowns
- 0 interceptions
- 1 sack for 0 yards
- 92.5 QBR
- 155.6 passer rating
The 14-for-17 completion rate translates to 82.4%. More importantly, Maye averaged 11.9 yards every time he attempted a pass.
That is the central statistical contrast between the quarterbacks.
Young attempted 30 passes for 150 yards. Maye attempted only 17 passes but produced 203 yards.
New England therefore did not need volume passing. The Patriots were getting much more value from each completed throw.
Joshua Dobbs attempted one pass and did not complete it, leaving the Patriots with a 14-of-18 team passing line for 203 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Why Maye’s Efficiency Mattered
Maye’s performance becomes even more impressive when viewed alongside New England’s overall offensive approach.
The Patriots ran only 48 offensive plays compared with Carolina’s 65. Despite having 17 fewer plays, New England generated 307 total yards compared with Carolina’s 326.
That means the Patriots averaged 6.4 yards per offensive play, while Carolina averaged 5.0.
The lesson is straightforward: possession volume is not the same as offensive efficiency.
Carolina had the ball longer and ran more plays, but New England consistently generated more value when it had possession.
Carolina’s Rushing Attack
The Panthers ran the football 28 times for 129 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
That is actually a respectable rushing performance. The problem was that the rushing production did not translate into touchdowns.
Chuba Hubbard
Chuba Hubbard led Carolina with:
- 10 carries
- 49 yards
- 4.9 yards per carry
- 0 touchdowns
- 11-yard long
He also contributed in the passing game with three receptions for 20 yards.
Hubbard was Carolina’s leading rusher, but his 49 yards were spread across only 10 carries. The Panthers needed more sustained explosive production from the running game, particularly after New England built its lead.
Trevor Etienne
Trevor Etienne recorded:
- 7 carries
- 33 yards
- 4.7 yards per carry
- 0 touchdowns
- 22-yard long
The 22-yard run was Carolina’s longest rushing play among the listed individual performances.
Etienne also contributed on kick returns, recording two returns for 39 yards.
Rico Dowdle
Rico Dowdle added:
- 9 carries
- 32 yards
- 3.6 yards per carry
- 0 touchdowns
- 10-yard long
He also caught one pass, although it went for negative two yards.
Carolina’s Overall Rushing Picture
The Panthers’ team rushing line was:
28 carries, 129 yards, 4.6 yards per carry, 0 rushing touchdowns.
The average itself was not disastrous. The bigger issue was finishing drives.
Carolina reached the red zone twice and scored touchdowns on both occasions, so its red-zone efficiency was technically perfect. But the Panthers did not reach scoring territory often enough to match New England’s six touchdown drives.
New England’s Rushing Production
The Patriots ran 29 times for 104 yards, averaging 3.6 yards per carry.
On the surface, that was less efficient than Carolina’s running game.
Yet New England scored three rushing touchdowns.
That contrast is one of the most important insights in the game.
Rhamondre Stevenson
Stevenson carried the ball nine times for:
- 38 yards
- 4.2 yards per carry
- 0 touchdowns
- 22-yard long
He also caught one pass for three yards.
Stevenson was New England’s leading rusher by yardage, although he was not the team’s leading rushing touchdown scorer.
TreVeyon Henderson
Henderson recorded:
- 7 carries
- 32 yards
- 4.6 yards per carry
- 1 touchdown
- 11-yard long
He also caught two passes for 14 yards.
Antonio Gibson
Gibson finished with:
- 6 carries
- 27 yards
- 4.5 yards per carry
- 1 touchdown
- 21-yard long
He also returned one kickoff for 28 yards.
Drake Maye as a Runner
Maye added:
- 3 carries
- 11 yards
- 3.7 yards per carry
- 1 touchdown
- 5-yard long
That rushing touchdown helped turn his performance into a dual-threat contribution.
The Patriots therefore received three rushing touchdowns from three different contributors: Henderson, Gibson and Maye.
Receiving Statistics
The receiving numbers reveal another major difference.
Carolina’s receivers collectively produced 208 receiving yards on 23 receptions, while New England’s listed receiving production totaled 203 yards on 14 receptions.
Carolina therefore caught more passes and accumulated slightly more receiving yardage in the detailed receiving statistics, but New England generated much greater yardage per reception.
Tetairoa McMillan
Tetairoa McMillan was Carolina’s leading receiver.
His line:
- 4 receptions
- 62 yards
- 15.5 yards per reception
- 0 touchdowns
- 22-yard long
- 8 targets
McMillan’s 15.5-yard average was an important positive for Carolina. He demonstrated the ability to create meaningful gains downfield.
However, four receptions were not enough to provide the passing attack with a consistent high-volume outlet.
Tommy Tremble
Tommy Tremble recorded:
- 5 receptions
- 42 yards
- 8.4 yards per reception
- 1 touchdown
- 15-yard long
- 8 targets
Tremble tied McMillan for the team lead in targets and produced Carolina’s second receiving touchdown.
Brycen Tremayne
Tremayne recorded:
- 3 receptions
- 36 yards
- 12.0 yards per reception
- 0 touchdowns
- 24-yard long
- 4 targets
His 24-yard reception was Carolina’s longest listed receiving play.
He also recorded Carolina’s only fumble, although the Panthers recovered it.
Mitchell Evans
Evans contributed:
- 3 receptions
- 23 yards
- 7.7 yards per reception
- 1 touchdown
- 16-yard long
- 4 targets
The touchdown gave Carolina another scoring outlet, but the overall passing attack could not maintain enough momentum.
New England Receiving Leaders
Stefon Diggs
Stefon Diggs was the Patriots’ leading receiver by a wide margin in yardage.
His line:
- 6 receptions
- 101 yards
- 16.8 yards per reception
- 0 touchdowns
- 33-yard long
- 7 targets
Diggs accounted for almost half of New England’s 203 passing yards.
His 33-yard reception was also the longest reception recorded by either team in the supplied statistics.
This is a strong example of why target volume and efficiency should be examined together. Diggs received seven targets and caught six of them, producing more than 100 yards.
Hunter Henry
Hunter Henry caught:
- 2 passes
- 39 yards
- 19.5 yards per reception
- 1 touchdown
- 31-yard long
- 2 targets
His 19.5-yard average was excellent, and he scored on one of his two receptions.
Austin Hooper
Hooper caught one pass for 24 yards.
That single reception averaged 24 yards and provided another explosive contribution to New England’s passing attack.
Kayshon Boutte
Boutte recorded:
- 1 reception
- 18 yards
- 18.0 yards per reception
- 0 touchdowns
- 18-yard long
- 3 targets
Mack Hollins
Hollins caught one pass for four yards and a touchdown.
The Patriots therefore received touchdown production from multiple positions rather than relying on a single receiver.
Special Teams Was a Major Story
If someone looks only at passing and rushing statistics, they miss one of the biggest reasons New England won so comfortably.
Marcus Jones returned three punts for 167 yards.
His average was 55.7 yards per return, and his longest return was 87 yards.
That 87-yard return was a touchdown.
It was one of the game’s most decisive individual plays.
Carolina’s punt return unit had three returns for only 19 yards.
That means New England gained 148 more punt-return yards than Carolina.
This was not a minor statistical difference. It directly created field position and seven points.
Kick Returns
Carolina actually had the better total kick-return yardage:
- Rico Dowdle: 4 returns, 100 yards
- Trevor Etienne: 2 returns, 39 yards
- Carolina total: 6 returns, 139 yards
New England recorded:
- Antonio Gibson: 1 return, 28 yards
- TreVeyon Henderson: 1 return, 20 yards
- Patriots total: 2 returns, 48 yards
So Carolina’s special teams performance was not universally poor. The Panthers were productive on kick returns.
The major problem was punt returns.
New England’s 167 punt-return yards, including the touchdown, overwhelmed Carolina’s 19 yards in that category.
Defensive Statistics
The defensive numbers also deserve context.
Carolina recorded 57 total tackles, 24 solo tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, two passes defended and one quarterback hit.
New England recorded 75 total tackles, 43 solo tackles, one sack, five tackles for loss, two passes defended and four quarterback hits.
The raw tackle advantage for New England is partly a reflection of how the game unfolded.
Carolina ran 65 offensive plays, meaning the Patriots had many opportunities to record tackles.
More important than the tackle total was New England’s ability to limit Carolina’s scoring despite allowing 326 total yards.
Carolina Defense
The Panthers allowed:
- 307 total yards
- 203 passing yards
- 104 rushing yards
- 6 touchdowns
The six touchdowns are the most important number.
New England did not need huge yardage totals to score repeatedly.
New England Defense
The Patriots allowed:
- 326 total yards
- 197 net passing yards
- 129 rushing yards
- 2 touchdowns
Carolina gained 19 more total yards than New England but scored 29 fewer points.
That single comparison captures the difference between production and efficiency.
The Most Important Team Statistics
| Statistic | Panthers | Patriots |
| First Downs | 21 | 16 |
| Total Yards | 326 | 307 |
| Offensive Plays | 65 | 48 |
| Yards per Play | 5.0 | 6.4 |
| Rushing Yards | 129 | 104 |
| Passing Yards | 197 | 203 |
| Rushing Attempts | 28 | 29 |
| Pass Attempts | 36 | 18 |
| Turnovers Lost | 0 | 0 |
| Touchdowns | 2 | 6 |
| Red-Zone Efficiency | 2/2 | 4/4 |
| Time of Possession | 35:14 | 24:46 |
| Punt Return Yards | 19 | 167 |
This table reveals why the final score looks surprising if you only consider yardage.
Carolina won the time-of-possession battle by more than 10 minutes. The Panthers also produced 21 first downs compared with 16 for New England.
Yet the Patriots won by 29 points.
The explanation is explosive efficiency.
New England averaged 6.4 yards per offensive play compared with Carolina’s 5.0. The Patriots also generated 167 punt-return yards, including a touchdown.
Why the Patriots Won Despite Fewer Total Yards
This is arguably the most valuable takeaway from the Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots match player stats.
Football games are not won by total yardage alone.
New England had fewer total yards, fewer first downs, fewer offensive plays and less possession time.
Yet the Patriots scored 42 points.
1. Explosive Passing
Maye averaged 11.9 yards per attempt.
That gave New England the ability to gain large chunks of yardage without needing long drives.
2. Red-Zone Perfection
The Patriots went 4-for-4 in the red zone.
Every red-zone possession became a touchdown.
Carolina also went 2-for-2, but it had only two red-zone opportunities.
The difference was opportunity volume.
3. Special Teams Created Seven Points
Marcus Jones’ 87-yard punt return provided a touchdown without requiring the offense to run a single play.
That is a huge advantage in a game where the offenses were separated by only six total yards.
4. Multiple Touchdown Sources
New England scored through:
- Passing touchdowns
- Rushing touchdowns
- A punt-return touchdown
That diversity made the Patriots difficult to contain.
5. Carolina’s Long Possessions Did Not Become Enough Points
The Panthers held the ball for 35:14.
That is more than 10 minutes longer than New England.
But possession without points can become misleading.
Carolina had seven drives listed in the first half and several additional possessions after halftime, yet the Patriots repeatedly turned their opportunities into touchdowns.
A Closer Look at Efficiency
One of the best ways to interpret this matchup is to compare offensive plays with points.
Carolina ran 65 plays and scored 13 points.
That equals approximately 0.20 points per offensive play.
New England ran 48 plays and scored 42 points.
That equals approximately 0.88 points per offensive play.
The gap is enormous.
It shows that New England did not need sustained possession to dominate the scoreboard.
The Patriots were more dangerous on a per-play basis.
First Downs Tell a Different Story
Carolina produced 21 first downs.
New England produced 16.
Ordinarily, winning the first-down battle can indicate offensive control.
Here, it did not.
Carolina’s first-down advantage was not converted into scoring opportunities at the same rate.
The Panthers had:
- 8 rushing first downs
- 11 passing first downs
- 2 first downs by penalty
New England had:
- 7 rushing first downs
- 8 passing first downs
- 1 first down by penalty
This reinforces an important analytical principle: first downs are useful context, but they should not be viewed in isolation from points, explosive plays and red-zone efficiency.
Third-Down and Fourth-Down Performance
Carolina converted 5 of 14 third downs, or 35.7%.
New England converted 3 of 9, or 33.3%.
The percentages were close.
That means third-down conversion was not the major reason for the 29-point difference.
Fourth down was more interesting.
Carolina converted 1 of 3 attempts.
New England converted its only fourth-down attempt.
Neither team produced a dramatic fourth-down advantage, so the game again points toward other factors such as explosive plays and scoring efficiency.
Turnovers Were Not the Explanation
Neither team threw an interception.
Carolina had one fumble but did not lose it.
New England had no fumbles.
Therefore, the Patriots did not win because Carolina repeatedly handed them the football.
This is an important distinction.
A 42-13 result can sometimes be explained by a turnover-heavy game. This one was not.
New England created separation without relying on takeaways.
Punting Comparison
Sam Martin punted five times for Carolina for 231 yards, averaging 46.2 yards per punt.
Bryce Baringer punted four times for New England for 205 yards, averaging 51.3 yards per punt.
Baringer also placed two punts inside the 20, while Martin had one.
The punting statistics reinforce New England’s field-position advantage.
The Patriots’ punt-return unit then amplified that advantage through Marcus Jones.
What the Numbers Say About Bryce Young
It would be too simplistic to describe Young’s performance as simply poor.
He completed 60% of his passes, threw a touchdown and avoided interceptions.
Carolina also produced 197 net passing yards.
The bigger issue was efficiency.
His 5.0 yards per attempt was far below Maye’s 11.9.
That difference meant Carolina had to work harder for each passing yard.
The Panthers also needed 36 team pass attempts to generate 197 yards, while New England needed only 18 attempts to produce 203.
That is one of the starkest statistical contrasts from the game.
What the Numbers Say About Drake Maye
Maye’s performance was highly efficient rather than volume-heavy.
- He attempted only 17 passes.
- He completed 14.
- He produced 203 yards.
- He threw two touchdowns.
- He did not throw an interception.
- He also added a rushing touchdown.
His 155.6 passer rating reflected that efficiency.
The most impressive part of the performance was not merely the touchdown total.
It was the combination of accuracy and explosive passing.
An 82.4% completion rate paired with 11.9 yards per attempt is a difficult combination for a defense to handle.
Player of the Game
Marcus Jones has the strongest argument for being the game’s most impactful individual because his punt-return touchdown directly produced seven points and his three returns generated 167 yards.
Drake Maye has the strongest argument from an offensive perspective.
Maye produced:
- 203 passing yards
- 2 passing touchdowns
- 0 interceptions
- 155.6 passer rating
- 11 rushing yards
- 1 rushing touchdown
Stefon Diggs also deserves significant recognition after producing 101 receiving yards on six catches.
The distinction is useful: Maye controlled the offensive efficiency, Diggs supplied explosive receiving production, and Jones delivered a game-changing special teams play.
Carolina’s Biggest Positive Takeaways
Despite the 42-13 loss, several individual performances were encouraging.
Chuba Hubbard Provided Reliable Rushing Production
Hubbard averaged 4.9 yards per carry and led Carolina with 49 rushing yards.
Tetairoa McMillan Showed Downfield Potential
McMillan averaged 15.5 yards per reception and produced 62 yards on four catches.
Andy Dalton Was Highly Efficient
Dalton completed five of six attempts for 58 yards and one touchdown.
His individual passer rating was 146.5.
The Panthers Avoided Turnover Problems
Carolina did not throw an interception and recovered its only fumble.
These are meaningful positives even though they did not translate into a competitive final score.
New England’s Biggest Positive Takeaways
Maye Delivered Efficient Quarterback Play
The young quarterback produced 203 yards and three total touchdowns while avoiding turnovers.
Diggs Provided a Major Downfield Threat
His 101 receiving yards were more than any Carolina receiver accumulated.
The Running Game Scored Three Touchdowns
Henderson, Gibson and Maye each contributed a rushing touchdown.
Special Teams Changed the Game
Marcus Jones’ 87-yard punt-return touchdown was arguably the most dramatic individual play.
The Hidden Value of Special Teams
The special teams numbers deserve even more attention because they help explain how a game with relatively similar total yardage became a 29-point blowout.
New England had 167 punt-return yards.
Carolina had 19.
That 148-yard difference was larger than the final difference in total offensive yardage between the teams.
In other words, the Patriots created a major field-position advantage without needing additional offensive snaps.
This is a good reminder for anyone analyzing football statistics: offense, defense and special teams should not be separated when explaining the final result.
Historical and Contextual Interpretation
This matchup is also useful as a case study in why box-score analysis should move beyond the headline numbers.
A casual summary might say:
“New England won 42-13.”
A basic statistical summary might add:
“Carolina had more yards and first downs.”
A deeper analysis asks:
“How did New England score 42 points despite having fewer plays, fewer first downs, less possession and slightly fewer total yards?”
The answer is efficiency.
The Patriots generated more yards per play, produced explosive passing, scored touchdowns on every red-zone opportunity, and received a seven-point special teams contribution.
The official NFL game materials provide the complete statistical framework for this comparison, including team efficiency, possession, scoring and individual production.
Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats: Complete Player Snapshot
Carolina Panthers
Passing
- Bryce Young: 18/30, 150 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
- Andy Dalton: 5/6, 58 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
- Team: 23/36, 197 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Rushing
- Chuba Hubbard: 10 carries, 49 yards
- Trevor Etienne: 7 carries, 33 yards
- Rico Dowdle: 9 carries, 32 yards
- David Moore: 1 carry, 12 yards
- Bryce Young: 1 carry, 3 yards
Receiving
- Tetairoa McMillan: 4 receptions, 62 yards
- Tommy Tremble: 5 receptions, 42 yards, 1 TD
- Brycen Tremayne: 3 receptions, 36 yards
- Mitchell Evans: 3 receptions, 23 yards, 1 TD
- Chuba Hubbard: 3 receptions, 20 yards
- James Mitchell: 2 receptions, 17 yards
- Hunter Renfrow: 2 receptions, 10 yards
- Rico Dowdle: 1 reception, -2 yards
New England Patriots
Passing
- Drake Maye: 14/17, 203 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
- Joshua Dobbs: 0/1, 0 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
- Team: 14/18, 203 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Rushing
- Rhamondre Stevenson: 9 carries, 38 yards
- TreVeyon Henderson: 7 carries, 32 yards, 1 TD
- Antonio Gibson: 6 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD
- Drake Maye: 3 carries, 11 yards, 1 TD
- Joshua Dobbs: 3 carries, -2 yards
- Kyle Williams: 1 carry, -2 yards
Receiving
- Stefon Diggs: 6 receptions, 101 yards
- Hunter Henry: 2 receptions, 39 yards, 1 TD
- Austin Hooper: 1 reception, 24 yards
- Kayshon Boutte: 1 reception, 18 yards
- TreVeyon Henderson: 2 receptions, 14 yards
- Mack Hollins: 1 reception, 4 yards, 1 TD
- Rhamondre Stevenson: 1 reception, 3 yards
What This Game Teaches About NFL Player Statistics
The matchup provides several lessons that apply well beyond this individual game.
Total Yards Can Be Misleading
Carolina had 326 total yards.
New England had 307.
Yet New England won by 29 points.
Possession Time Does Not Guarantee Success
Carolina possessed the ball for 35:14.
New England possessed it for 24:46.
The Patriots still scored 42 points.
Efficiency Often Matters More Than Volume
Carolina ran 65 plays.
New England ran 48.
The Patriots averaged 6.4 yards per play compared with Carolina’s 5.0.
Special Teams Can Create an Immediate Scoring Advantage
Marcus Jones’ punt-return touchdown produced seven points without an offensive possession.
Red-Zone Execution Is Crucial
Both teams scored touchdowns on every red-zone opportunity, but New England reached the red zone twice as often.
That difference in opportunity was critical.
How to Analyze Similar Matchups More Accurately
When studying future NFL player statistics, avoid focusing on only one category.
A better process is:
- Start with the final score.
- Compare total offensive plays.
- Examine yards per play.
- Compare passing efficiency.
- Check rushing efficiency and rushing touchdowns.
- Review explosive plays.
- Examine red-zone opportunities and results.
- Review turnovers.
- Analyze punt and kickoff returns.
- Compare time of possession only after examining scoring efficiency.
This approach prevents misleading conclusions.
For example, saying that Carolina “controlled the game” because it had more possession would be incorrect.
The Panthers controlled possession in terms of clock time, but New England controlled the scoreboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots game?
The New England Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers 42-13 on September 28, 2025, at Gillette Stadium.
What were Drake Maye’s stats against the Panthers?
Drake Maye completed 14 of 17 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He also rushed three times for 11 yards and a touchdown.
What were Bryce Young’s stats against the Patriots?
Bryce Young completed 18 of 30 passes for 150 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He was sacked once for 11 yards.
Who was the leading receiver in the game?
Stefon Diggs led the game with six receptions for 101 yards. Tetairoa McMillan led Carolina with four receptions for 62 yards.
Who had the best rushing performance for Carolina?
Chuba Hubbard led Carolina with 10 carries for 49 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
How did Marcus Jones affect the game?
Marcus Jones returned three punts for 167 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown. His return production was one of the biggest differences between the teams and provided New England with a direct special teams score.
Conclusion
The Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots match player stats show that the 42-13 final score was driven less by raw yardage and more by efficiency.
Carolina actually produced 326 total yards, 21 first downs, 129 rushing yards and 35:14 of possession. The Panthers also avoided interceptions and converted both of their red-zone opportunities into touchdowns.
New England, however, produced 307 yards on only 48 offensive plays. The Patriots averaged 6.4 yards per play, compared with Carolina’s 5.0, and scored touchdowns on all four of their red-zone opportunities. Drake Maye completed 14 of 17 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns, while Stefon Diggs delivered 101 receiving yards. The Patriots’ rushing attack added three touchdowns, and Marcus Jones supplied an 87-yard punt-return touchdown.
The biggest analytical takeaway is therefore efficiency. Carolina had more possession, more plays, more first downs and slightly more total yards, but New England turned its opportunities into points at a dramatically higher rate. That combination of explosive passing, touchdown efficiency and special teams production explains why the Patriots won comfortably despite losing several conventional volume statistics.
