NFLGame PreviewsCAR VS NE Preview Week4 season 28-SEP-2025

Game Preview of Carolina Panthers @ New England Patriots. Week 4 of 2025 NFL Season

CAR logo

CAR

1-2-0
@
28SEP25
01:00pm
NE logo

NE

1-2-0
Gillette Stadium

Game Preview

The Carolina Panthers visit the New England Patriots on Sept. 28 at 1:00 PM ET. The game is at Gillette Stadium.

 

Both teams sit at 1-2 and need a spark. New England leans on a tough front that rushes well and stops the run. The offense mixes under-center looks with play action and quick throws for rookie Drake Maye.

 

Carolina arrives with a defense that just forced turnovers and flipped a game. The pass rush numbers are light, but the unit takes the ball away at a high rate. On offense, the Panthers protect the quarterback well, yet the run game has not hit big plays.

 

Injuries could swing things. New England lists CB Christian Gonzalez, WR Stefon Diggs, and RB Rhamondre Stevenson as Questionable. Carolina’s line is thin with three interior starters on injured reserve and both LT Ikem Ekwonu and G Damien Lewis Questionable. Several Panthers receivers carry Q tags, which could cap explosive plays.

Current Season Form

CAR logo

CAR

Away
Record:1-2-0
ATS:2-1-0
O/U:1-2-0
NE logo

NE

Home
Record:1-2-0
ATS:1-2-0
O/U:1-2-0

Head-to-Head Summary

Record:
3-2Winner logo
ATS:4-1-0
O/U:1-3-1

Past Results

DateOpponentResultATSO/U
2025-09-21vs PITL 14-21L -1.5u44.5
2025-09-14@ MIAW 33-27W +1.5o43.5
2025-09-07vs LVL 13-20L 2.5u44.5
2025-01-05vs BUFW 23-16W +-3.0o36.5
2024-12-28vs LACL 7-40L -6.0o42.0
2024-12-22@ BUFL 21-24L 14.0u48.0
2024-12-15@ ARIL 17-30L 6.0o46.5
2024-12-01vs INDL 24-25L -2.5o41.5
2024-11-24@ MIAL 15-34L 7.5o46.0
2024-11-17vs LARL 22-28L -4.0o42.5

Key Insights

  • Run-game chess match favors New England. The Patriots allow explosive runs on only 1.5% of carries (88th percentile; sample 65). Carolina creates explosive runs at 1.4% (14th; sample 73).

  • Pass-rush vs protection is strength on strength. New England converts pressure to sacks at 9.2% (89th; sample 98). Carolina’s sack rate allowed is just 3.4% (83rd; sample 118).

  • Patriots’ pass defense has sprung leaks. NE’s explosive-pass-allowed rate is high (13.7%; sample 95). Carolina’s deep-pass explosiveness is modest at 2.6% (27th; sample 115), which could mute that mismatch.

  • New England thrives in short-yardage defense? Not yet. Third-and-short stop rate sits at 16.7% (9th percentile; small sample 6). That can extend drives if it continues.

  • Red-zone watch. NE has allowed touchdowns on 83.3% of red-zone trips (3rd percentile; small sample 6). Carolina’s defense holds up better there at 44.4% allowed (70th; sample 9).

  • Availability matters. If Christian Gonzalez plays, NE’s secondary ceiling rises. Carolina’s OL and WR Questionable tags add volatility to timing and spacing.

Betting Insights

 

  • Anchor spread: Patriots -5.5 (-118). New England’s defensive front vs a depleted Carolina OL is the handicap.

  • Anchor total: 45.0 with Over +124 and Under -154. The juice leans Under, fitting NE’s run defense and CAR’s low explosive-run rate.

  • Moneyline snapshot: Patriots -244 vs Panthers +210. Price reflects the trench edge and home field, even with New England’s recent home struggles.

  • Team totals: Patriots 23.5 (Over -125, Under -114). Panthers 17.5 (Under -120, Over -119). The split projects a grind.

  • Bryce Young under 209.5 pass yards (-120): NE’s pressure-to-sack rate is 9.2% and Carolina’s WR room is banged up.

  • Chuba Hubbard under 51.5 rush yards (-122): Patriots allow explosive runs at just 1.5% (strong run fit).

  • Hunter Henry over 39.5 receiving yards (-120): Carolina ranks near the bottom in sack creation and conversion (both 1.0%), which boosts intermediate targets.

  • Kayshon Boutte over 26.5 receiving yards (-119): Low bar with a clean-pocket outlook. Note that Stevenson is Questionable, which could shift target shares.

  • Tetairoa McMillan under 67.5 receiving yards (-120): Questionable tag plus NE’s pass rush adds downside. Injury volatility applies.

 

Final Summary

This sets up as a field-position game. New England’s front is built to stop the run and squeeze short throws. Carolina protects well, but a thinned line and Questionable receivers make sustaining drives harder.

If the Patriots avoid giveaways, they can lean on defense and a steady run plan. That approach pairs with an Under-leaning total and a modest team total around 24. Red-zone execution is the Patriots’ soft spot so far, but those numbers are a small sample.

Carolina’s path is takeaways and timely third-down wins. The defense has generated turnovers at a high clip, and a short field would help Bryce Young. Without explosive runs or deep shots, long drives will be tough.

Check inactives before betting props on Questionable players like Stefon Diggs, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Carolina’s receivers. Prices carry juice, and roles can swing quickly near kickoff.

Statistical Battle Boards

Viewing: NE Offense vs CAR Defense
Offense team logoOffense
Defense team logoDefense
StatisticOffenseRankDefenseRankAdvantage
Total Points60#2253#25NE advantage
Total Points Per Game20#2217.7#8CAR advantage
Total Touchdowns7#155#8CAR advantage
Passing Touchdowns5#92#3CAR advantage
Rushing Touchdowns1#232#15CAR advantage
Other Touchdowns1#41#30NE advantage
Total Kicking Points16#2823#18CAR advantage
Total Two Point Conversions1#20#13NE advantage
Kick Extra Points4#265#21CAR advantage
Offense team logoOffense
Defense team logoDefense
StatisticOffenseRankDefenseRankAdvantage
Net Passing Yards737#7590#21NE advantage
Net Passing Yards Per Game246#7197#21NE advantage
Passer Rating101#966.9#31NE advantage
Passing Attempts106#1199#20NE advantage
Completions77#559#22NE advantage
Completion Percentage72.6#259.6#6NE advantage
Passing 1st downs37#730#11NE advantage
Passing 1st Down %59.7#957.7#18NE advantage
Longest Pass55#831#32NE advantage
Passing Fumbles Lost1#60#27NE advantage
Receiving Targets104#995#14NE advantage
Receptions77#559#10NE advantage
Receiving Yards After Catch352#10304#13NE advantage
YAC Average4.6#235.2#21CAR advantage
Offense team logoOffense
Defense team logoDefense
StatisticOffenseRankDefenseRankAdvantage
Rushing Yards301#19413#25NE advantage
Rushing Yards Per Game100#19138#8CAR advantage
Rushing Attempts76#1977#14CAR advantage
Yards Per Rush Attempt4#215.4#3CAR advantage
Rushing 1st downs20#1421#20NE advantage
20+ Yard Rushing Plays1#132#11CAR advantage
Long Rushing21#2271#2CAR advantage
Rushing Fumbles1#132#11CAR advantage
Rushing Fumbles Lost3#11#11NE advantage