The Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots will do battle during Week 1 of the NFL preseason. The Thursday Night Football game will potentially give fans their first glimpses of some of the new faces on both sides of the field, including rookie quarterback Drake Maye and rookie head coach Dave Canales.
Here is everything you need to know surrounding the Panthers vs. Patriots Week 1 preseason game, including how you can listen and which radio stations are available.
Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots
- Start time: Thursday, August 8, 2024, 7 p.m. ET
- Channel: NFL Network
- Live stream options: NFL App, NFL+, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
- Radio stations: Panthers Radio Network, 98.5 The Sports Hub
- Starting QBs: Jack Plummer, Drake Maye
- Betting lines:
- Spread: NE -6.5
- Total: 33.5
- Moneyline: NE -278, CAR +225
The 2024 season is a chance for the Panthers and Patriots to rebound from a rough campaign.
After selecting quarterback Bryce Young first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Panthers would stumble to a 2-15 record, fire head coach Frank Reich, and watch as the Chicago Bears selected quarterback Caleb Williams in the 2024 NFL Draft with the pick they had given up to take Young the year prior.
With Dave Canales taking over as HC, can Young and the Panthers have a better year?
Young made plenty of mistakes as a rookie. However, with a less-than-stellar receiving core, he wasn’t set up for much success either. Ten-year veteran WR Adam Thielen led the team with 1,014 yards, almost doubling the next receiver on the list.
Carolina thankfully got Young and Thielen some reinforcements this offseason by trading for Diontae Johnson and drafting Xavier Legette with the last pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Combined with a splash on the offensive line by signing Robert Hunt, the Panthers are ready to see improvement.
The Patriots are in a similar boat with a new head coach, but a change under center also comes. Brady’s departure in 2020 created a massive void in New England’s roster. While Bill Belichick’s defense could mask the issues for a while, the dam finally broke as the Patriots and the legendary head coach parted ways after a 4-13 season in 2023.
Former New England LB Jerod Mayo takes over as HC and brings with him a brand new quarterback group, headlined by third-overall pick Drake Maye and reuniting with veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Rookie Joe Milton III and Bailey Zappe round out the group.
Eight-year WR Kendrick Bourne will start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Behind him is veteran Juju Smith-Schuster, 2023 sixth-round pick DeMario Douglas, 2024 second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk, and 2024 fourth-round pick Javon Baker.
