Carolina Panthers vs. Patriots: Our predictions, plus betting advice, TV channel
The Carolina Panthers are looking to sustain the good vibes they earned in Week 3 after shutting out and crushing their NFC South rival Atlanta in their home opener.
Now ... will they?
Carolina (1-2) travels to Foxborough, Mass., this weekend to take on the New England Patriots (1-2). The game is in Gillette Stadium and will kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Panthers fans are praying for more of the same: a mistake-free game from third-year quarterback Bryce Young, a lopsided advantage in the turnover margin, a mostly flawless day on special teams. Meanwhile the Patriots are mostly happy with their quarterback play — North Carolina product Drake Maye has been a bright spot for the team — despite the offense giving up five turnovers in Week 3, which led to the 21-14 loss to the Steelers.
Considering all this, Observer reporters Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow, as well as columnist Scott Fowler, are here to provide their predictions for what will happen in Foxborough. See those below. Also, check out the easiest ways to watch this game on TV and listen to it on the radio — with some betting information sprinkled in.
How to watch, listen, follow Panthers-Patriots
Fans can catch the game on FOX. Chris Myers will handle play-by-play duties with Mark Schlereth as the analyst; Jennifer Hale will be the game’s sideline reporter.
As per usual, you can also listen to the game on WRFX 99.7 The Fox, with Anish Shroff, Jim Szoke, Luke Kuechly and sideline reporter Sharon Thorsland on the call. That’s 99.7 FM in Charlotte and 101.5 FM in Raleigh. The rest of the station’s local listings can be found on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network. (Spanish radio, as always, will be on WCNC 97.3 FM and 1060 AM.)
Fans can also stream it on Fubo or NFL+ with valid subscriptions.
Inactives for Panthers and Patriots in Week 4
Panthers:
WR Xavier Legette (hamstring), OLB Patrick Jones (hamstring), OLB DJ Wonnum (hip), TE Ja’Tavion Sanders (ankle), WR Jimmy Horn Jr., DE Jaden Crumedy, C Nick Samac
Patriots:
G Jared Wilson (ankle/knee), QB Tommy DeVito, OLB Elijah Ponder, WR Efton Chism III, DT Eric Gregory, G Caedan Wallace
Betting info: Patriots are 5.5-point favorites
The Patriots opened as 5.5-point favorites against the Panthers this weekend, according to FanDuel Sportsbook; that’s the exact point spread the Falcons had over Carolina last week. The over/under is 43.5.
The Panthers are now 2-1 against the spread, and the Patriots are 1-2 against the spread after their 7-point loss to the Steelers (the Pats were 2.5-point underdogs last week).
Some other bets that could be compelling for this game:
- Either Player — Anytime Touchdown Scorer: Tetairoa McMillan or Treveyon Henderson. These odds are at -165 right now, so the sportsbooks predict this is pretty likely. Some skepticism is healthy; after all, neither of these two rookie playmakers have scored an NFL touchdown yet. But if anything, that might make such a feat more likely.
- Player Receiving Yards — Tommy Tremble. The over/under for Tremble’s receiving yards is at 22.5 for the game. His first three weeks of production: 2, 20 and 16. So such production isn’t a given. But with Ja’Tavion Sanders out with an ankle injury, Tremble will be the No. 1 option at tight end for Bryce Young. Worth considering.
- Drake Maye — Passing + Rushing Yards. The over/under is at 239.5 yards, and Maye has shown remarkable upside as a passer and a rusher. If the Panthers can keep the Charlotte-area native to under 239.5 yards total ... that would put the Panthers in a good spot to win. But it would be no easy feat.
Game predictions
Fowler, thanks to his preternatural understanding of this franchise’s flows and ebbs, somehow stayed perfect after the Panthers’ shutout win last week. He’s 3-0 as a predictor. Kaye is 1-2, and Zietlow is 0-3.
Fowler: Patriots 27, Panthers 20. The Panthers’ next four games are winnable, as this game at New England is followed by Miami and Dallas (likely without CeeDee Lamb) at home in Charlotte and then the New York Jets on the road. It’s important for the Panthers to go at least 2-2 through that stretch, before they run into Buffalo and Green Bay in back-to-back weeks.
This one, though, doesn’t feel like a victory. Drake Maye — the youngest of the four Maye brothers who have lit up various athletic fields, courts and diamonds for decades in North Carolina — will outduel Bryce Young.
Kaye: Panthers 20, Patriots 19. This game is going to be all about Bryce Young and the pass defense. If Young can lead a few strong scoring drives, and Ejiro Evero’s defense can get to Drake Maye, Carolina will conquer New England. While last week was an “everything gone right” success, this one will need to be gritty to get the win. Jaycee Horn is getting his second interception in this matchup.
Zietlow: Patriots 21, Panthers 17. The optimist in me says that, in Week 3, we saw what these Panthers can be if Bryce Young and the Panthers play mistake-free football. The same optimist, however, could look at the Patriots’ result against the Steelers — a 21-14 fight despite five lost turnovers, including two in the red zone — and be bullish on the Pats. So I’m going with the home team.
This story was originally published September 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
