The New England Patriots squared off with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium and walked out with a 17-3 victory in Jerod Mayo's first NFL game as a head coach.
Entering the game, there was intrigue surrounding how the quarterbacks were going to be used, with Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye both expected to start at some point during the 2024 season. And, while their usage was interesting throughout the contest, it was surprising, to say the least.
Brissett got the start under center on the team's opening offensive drive of the night after the defense forced a three-and-out. He handed the ball off to Rhamondre Stevenson on the first play, gaining 11 yards. Then, he threw three straight incompletions while targeting Mitchell Wilcox, Tyquan Thornton and the sideline to end the series.
That was it for the veteran.
With Maye entering the game next after another Panthers' three-and-out, the Foxboro Faithful let out a raucous cheer.
The third overall pick in this year's draft, handed the ball off to Antonio Gibson three times for two yards and completed two of his three passes, one to Gibson on a screen and one to Kevin Harris for 19 total yards.
That was it for the rookie.
Third-string quarterback Bailey Zappe, the only player at the position to return to the room from the 2023 season, got the next eight drives. He completed 12 of his 20 attempts for 108 yards, and his lone scoring drive was one that started in Carolina territory and ended with Harris punching it in from the 2-yard line.
Milton got the last three drives (really two with the last drive being kneels) and led two scoring drives, the first resulting in a 42-yard field goal from Joey Slye and another ending with a 38-yard touchdown pass to JaQuae Jackson.
With only so many opportunities to get Maye and Brissett game reps before they actually start to count, the Patriots chose to give opportunities to two guys who are at least two quarterback injuries away from playing time.
Was it because they'll see the majority of the team's offensive reps in next week's joint practice and game against the Eagles? Were they afraid of their two best quarterbacks being left exposed behind an offensive line that may not be up to snuff? Were they trying to get one last extended look at Bailey Zappe in a live situation before making a decision on his future?
Whatever the reason, this was the plan, and Mayo confirmed that this is what New England was looking to do during the post-game press conference. It just doesn't appear to be setting either Brissett or Maye up for the best chance for success going forward.
Luckily, the Patriots have two more games to get them opportunities, and if they're smart, they'll use them more than one drive in each of those exhibition contests.
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