The New England Patriots opened up their 2024 preseason slate on Thursday night with a 17-3 win over the visiting Carolina Panthers.
It was mostly a defensive game dictated by field position until Patriots rookie quarterback Joe Milton III entered the game in the second half.
New England came into the matchup with an interesting strategy of starting Jacoby Brissett for a drive and following that up by giving rookie first-round draft pick Drake Maye only one drive as well. They then went with Bailey Zappe for the rest of the first quarter and most of the third.