Projo Sports Blog

CHARLOTTE — When it matters in recent seasons, the Patriots usually win. In the playoffs, in the Super Bowl, in the AFC East — and in the third exhibition game.

Exhibition Number Three is generally considered the “important” one, and with New England’s 24-7 win over the Carolina Panthers last night, the team is now 5-2 under Bill Belichick in the third exhibition game.

Quarterback Tom Brady played into the third quarter, and most of the remaining starters played the full three quarters as the Pats notched their first win of the exhibition season.

There was a lot to like about New England’s performance, starting with the offensive line, which played a much better game than it had the previous week, against Tennessee. The Titans sacked Brady twice and were in his face quite a bit.

Last night, however, there were no such issues. Brady didn’t so much as absorb a hit when he was under center, and had plenty of time to spread the ball around. When he went back to the bench with 12:46 left in the third quarter, the 30-year-old had completed 17 of 22 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns.

In vintage Brady style, his 17 completions went to eight different receivers.

Early on, however, it was all Laurence Maroney.

The second-year running back was finally given the all-clear to hit and be hit after wearing a red non-contact jersey from the start of training camp, and had not played in the team’s first two exhibition games.

But last night, Maroney was handed the ball on nine of New England’s first 10 offensive plays, and finished the night with 15 carries for 58 yards (a 3.9 average). Maroney left after the Pats’ second scoring drive, which ended just under six minutes before halftime.

The first-team defense gave up just seven points, on a long catch-and-run by Panthers receiver Keary Colbert in the second quarter. Colbert was lined up opposite New England rookie defensive back Mike Richardson on the play, and got a great block near the end zone from Steve Smith for a 48-yard touchdown.

The Patriots didn’t get far on their first drive, a three-and-out in which Maroney gained six yards.

But their second possession was the kind of clock-killing drive they’ve become known for — an 18-play, 90-yard march that ended with a field goal by Stephen Gostkowski.

The big play in the drive was on third-and-8 from the New England 31, when Brady hit Sammy Morris with a short pass over the middle. Morris turned upfield, lowered his shoulder and met linebacker Dan Morgan for a nine-yard gain. Morris had another nice reception on a 13-yard screen in which he got a great block from Logan Mankins.

A third-down pass at the back of the end zone for Benjamin Watson was broken up by Chris Gamble, and New England settled for a 23-yard field goal.

It was the only three-pointer Gostkowski would convert on the night, however. The kicker, who also struggled at the start of last season before settling in and making 21 of his final 23 tries, missed a 53-yarder and a 46-yarder, both wide left.

Brady led the Patriots on two touchdown drives before departing, with the first score going to an unexpected target.

The first of two blocked field goals on the night for Vince Wilfork (the first looked like it should have been credited to Jarvis Green, but the change had not been made at the end of the game) put New England at the Carolina 45. After more ground work —Maroney, Morris and Heath Evans toted the ball for the first five snaps of the drive — Brady looked to Wes Welker for a 10-yard gain, which gave the Pats first-and-goal at the 10.

Two plays later, tight end Marcellus Rivers, signed on Aug. 8, cradled the touchdown score.

After halftime, a 15-yard completion to Reche Caldwell and a 37-yard strike to Donte Stallworth set up an Evans touchdown.

Matt Cassel came on for the next series, New England’s final scoring march, and promptly took a couple of hard hits. But a 43-yard run by Evans, who displayed his bulldog style on the carry, set the Pats up nicely. Evans then scored from two yards out.

Vinny Testaverde, who rejoined New England on Saturday, and undrafted rookie Matt Gutierrez also took some snaps at quarterback.

--SHALISE MANZA YOUNG

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