Carolina Panthers to Face Patriots in Pre-Season Opener

The Carolina Panthers will kick off their first preseason game Thursday night against the New England Patriots. Here are five things to watch for in the matchup.

1. **First-time head coaches:** Both the Panthers and Patriots will be led by first-time head coaches this season. Matt Rhule was hired by the Panthers in 2020, while Bill Belichick stepped down from his role as New England's head coach in 2021. It will be interesting to see how both coaches approach their first preseason game and what kind of adjustments they make throughout the game.

2. **Quarterback play:** The Panthers will likely start Sam Darnold at quarterback, while the Patriots will likely start Mac Jones. Both quarterbacks are entering their third seasons in the NFL, and it will be important for them to show that they have made progress since last season. Darnold threw for 2,527 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 12 games last season, while Jones threw for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 17 games.

Carolina Panthers to Face Patriots in Pre-Season Opener

3. **Running game:** The Panthers have a solid running back duo in Christian McCaffrey and Chuba Hubbard. McCaffrey is one of the most dynamic players in the NFL, and he will be looking to bounce back from a 2021 season that was plagued by injuries. Hubbard had a solid rookie season, rushing for 612 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Patriots' running game is led by Damien Harris, who rushed for 929 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

4. **Pass rush:** The Panthers have a talented pass rush led by Brian Burns, who had 9 sacks last season. The Patriots have a solid pass rush as well, led by Matt Judon, who had 12.5 sacks last season. It will be interesting to see how both pass rushes perform in the preseason opener.

5. **Secondary:** The Panthers have a young secondary led by Jaycee Horn, who was a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Patriots have a more experienced secondary led by J.C. Jackson, who had 8 interceptions last season. It will be interesting to see how both secondaries perform in the preseason opener.