New England Patriots vs Carolina Panthers NFL Preview: Team news, betting, tickets, live stream, Fantasy Football and more

The New England Patriots entered the season with plenty of buzz, but three weeks in, they've stumbled to a 1-2 start. 

The hosts fell 21-14 to Pittsburgh after entering the final frame down by a touchdown. The Carolina Panthers, meanwhile, are riding a wave of optimism after their commanding 30-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

One victory doesn't rewrite the season, though. The Panthers have momentum, but it's fragile, a loss to the New England Patriots this week would quickly deflate it. Shifting focus and building on last week's performance is critical.

Both Carolina and New England find themselves at an early-season crossroads at 1-2. Dropping to 1-3 would put a serious dent in playoff hopes and, for the Panthers, dim the chances of mounting a surprise run at the NFC South crown. The stakes are steep, but Carolina has more to gain than to lose as they embark on their third road test in four games. This is the kind of opportunity that could define the start of a turnaround — if they can seize it.

New England Patriots vs Carolina Panthers kick-off time

The Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots play on Sunday, Sept. 28, at Gillette Stadium in a game on the NFL Week 4 schedule, with kick off scheduled for 1:00 pm ET.

Team news & squads

New England Patriots team news

The Patriots kicked off Week 4 practice minus a pair of starters in Foxborough. Rookie guard Jared Wilson and veteran edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson were both absent on Wednesday, leaving notable gaps on the offensive line and defense. The silver lining came in the secondary, where Christian Gonzalez was once again listed as a limited participant.

The 2024 All-Pro corner has been shelved since July with a nagging hamstring injury, but all signs point to him making his long-awaited 2025 season debut this weekend against the Panthers. Gonzalez was downgraded to questionable late last week, but momentum now suggests he’s on track to finally rejoin the lineup.

Drake Maye turned in a solid effort last time out, completing 28-of-37 passes for 268 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, while also leading the team in rushing with 45 yards. Tight end Hunter Henry was the focal point offensively, hauling in eight receptions for 90 yards and both of Maye's touchdown throws.

Patriots Injury Report : Christian Gonzalez, CB - Questionable , Layden Robinson, G - IR , Jahlani Tavai, LB - IR-R , Isaiah Iton, DT - IR , Deneric Pricne, RB - IR

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Carolina Panthers team news

The Panthers opened Week 4 prep for their trip to New England with a long list of absences on Wednesday.

Wideouts Tetairoa McMillan (calf) and Xavier Legette (hamstring) were both sidelined, with Legette already sitting out last week’s loss to Atlanta. Veteran slot man Hunter Renfrow also missed practice, though his absence was due to personal reasons.

Tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle), who exited the Falcons game, didn’t take part either. On the defensive side, outside linebackers Patrick Jones II (hamstring) and D.J. Wonnum (hip) joined defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (hamstring) on the DNP list. Both Jones and Wharton were unavailable a week ago as well.

Carolina did manage to get a few veterans on the field in a lighter capacity. Running back Rico Dowdle, corner Jaycee Horn, and right tackle Taylor Moton were all listed as limited with rest designations rather than injury concerns.

Bryce Young threw for just 121 yards on 16-of-24 passing but chipped in with a rushing score. Chuba Hubbard paced the ground game with 73 yards on 17 carries, while Rico Dowdle added 30 yards and a touchdown. Through the air, Tetairoa McMillan led the charge with three catches for 48 yards.

Panthers Injury Report : Tershawn Wharton, DT - Questionable , Xavier Legette, WR - Questionable , Patrick Jones II, LB - Questionable , Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE - Doubtful , Austin Corbett, C - IR

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Watch and live stream Patriots vs Panthers in the USA

The Patriots vs Panthers game in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season will be broadcast live on FOX. Fans in the local markets will still be able to catch the coverage onFubo (Try for free today!).

More details on where to watch the game in the United States, including streaming options, will be released soon, so keep an eye out for our dedicated coverage.

Watch and live stream Patriots vs Panthers worldwide

For fans outside the U.S. looking to stay plugged into the action,NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the ultimate ticket. It serves up more than 200 regular-season and playoff matchups, complete Super Bowl coverage, plus access to NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and plenty more to keep you locked in all year long.

To bypass regional restrictions or to access the game if you are travelling abroad, you can watch the action using a Virtual Private Network like ExpressVPN.

How to buy Patriots vs Panthers tickets

The showdown between the Patriots and the Panthers is set for Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, a venue that packs in up to 65,878 fans and promises a fiery atmosphere on game day.

Tickets are already up for grabs on StubHub, with entry starting at $386. From there, prices climb through the tiers — $300, $400, $500, $600, $700, $800, $900, $1,000, and stretching all the way into the premium ranges of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, and topping out at $10,406 for the best seats in the house.

Check the link below for the full breakdown of how to purchase tickets to NFL games.

READ MORE: NFL 2025 Tickets: Prices, deals, season tickets & membership information

Patriots vs Panthers Fantasy Football

Drake Maye (19.8 projected W4 fpts) has opened the season with a few costly giveaways, but let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture—he’s still hitting 72.6% of his throws for 785 yards and five touchdowns. If New England manages to claw its way back into the AFC playoff picture, it’ll be largely on the back of Maye’s arm. Sunday will be another chance to see what the rookie can deliver.

Meanwhile, Kayshon Boutte's (6.2 projected W4 fpts) involvement has taken a step back since his eight-target outing in Week 1. Given the dip in production, fantasy managers are probably better off rolling with a more reliable option heading into Week 4.

Over in Carolina, Bryce Young (15.4 projected W4 fpts) didn't light it up through the air, but he saved his fantasy line with a rushing touchdown. He shapes up as a mid-tier QB2 against the Patriots next week. The Panthers leaned heavily on the run in that contest, with Chuba Hubbard nearly cashing in at the goal line before Rico Dowdle snatched the score. Still, Hubbard remains a dependable RB2 option moving forward.

One name gathering momentum is Tetairoa McMillan (9.1 projected W4 fpts). The numbers on the stat sheet haven’t fully popped yet, but his usage is screaming breakout. He commanded a massive 34% target share in Week 3, drawing 10 looks (including those wiped out by penalties) and piling up 90 air yards. With Young continuing to look his way in high-leverage spots—downfield and inside the red zone—it feels like a monster performance is just around the corner. Savvy fantasy managers should be buying in now, as McMillan is shaping into a sneaky WR2 play for Week 4.

Patriots vs Panthers Game Predictions

The Panthers have every reason to walk tall this week. Pitching a shutout in the NFL is rare enough, but keeping an opponent from even crossing the 30-yard line? That’s almost unheard of. For Ejiro Evero's defense, one that looked lost for much of last season, it's nothing short of a statement.

And it isn't just the defense. Across the roster, things are beginning to click. The Patriots will bring their own brand of toughness, any team coached by Mike Vrabel is going to be disciplined, physical, and ready to empty the tank—but this isn't a matchup that should spook Carolina.

The formula is pretty clear. New England is giving up a stingy 60.3 rushing yards per game, so if Carolina can actually get traction on the ground, that's the crack in the armor. Pair that with a defense riding newfound swagger, and suddenly this "tough test" looks a lot more like a winnable fight.

Bottom line: the Panthers don’t need to play scared—they need to play their game. If they set the tone early, this isn’t just winnable, it’s the kind of measuring-stick game that can change the entire narrative of their season.

The Panthers' defense has that predator's instinct right now, and you can bet they’ll be clawing for turnovers on every single down. This isn't a unit that waits for mistakes, they force them. Expect Carolina to lean on that edge and ride the positive momentum in what should be a grind-it-out battle for a change.

Patriots vs Panthers Betting Odds

Spread

Panthers +5.5 (-110)

Patriots -5.5 (-110)

Moneyline

Panthers +205

Patriots -250

Total

OVER 43.5 (-110)

UNDER 43.5 (-110)

Form

Head-to-Head Record

Useful links

• Patriots 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• Panthers 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• How to watch and live stream NFL football for free and without cable
• 2025 fantasy football rankings: Running back (RB) | Wide receiver (WR) | Tight end (TE) | Quarterback (QB)