Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Duel: Drake Maye and Bryce Young Battle | Will TreVeyon Henderson Step Up?

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Pats look to recover from giving a game away last week while the Panthers try to build off a 30-to-zip takedown of the Falcons. He's Julian counsel. I'm Nick Cattels. This is a crossover edition of Lockdown Patriots and Lockdown Panthers. You are Locked-on NFL crossover, part of the Locked-on podcast network. Your team every day. What's happening?

Starting point is 00:00:32 I am your host, Nick Cattles, Lockdown Patriots, of course. And today I'm joined by the host of Lockdown Panthers Julian Council for the latest edition of our lockdown crossovers during this 2025 NFL season. And on this week's crossover show, we'll tell you which matchups matter the most on Sunday. Also, you do not want to miss our three keys to victory coming up later. But first, it's all about the headlines. We get to the biggest story of the week for each side. We appreciate you join the show, making us. your first listening for being an every day or the lockdown Patriots podcast and

Starting point is 00:01:03 Lockdown Panthers podcasts are proud partners. The Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. And as you watch us both, do not forget, do not forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Crossover Thursday is presented by our prize picks. Download the prize picks app today. Use code Lockdown NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Julian, what's up, my man? How you doing?

Starting point is 00:01:27 Doing well, Nick, doing well, ready for this week four matchup between two teams at one and two, one team, Carolina coming off of, yeah, a big time victory winning 30 nothing in their division rival Atlanta. Then the Patriot, of course, coming off of, I think, probably a disappointing Sunday with those five turnovers against a certainly beatable Steelers team. Should be a fun one as both of these teams try to get the 500 this week. Yeah, I mean, I'm not sure how many people expected the Panthers to beat the Falcons, especially by a score of 30 to zip. But that's exactly what they did. Let me first ask you, off that win against Atlanta at home last weekend. What is the biggest story this week in Carolina? Yeah, biggest story is injuries right now.

Starting point is 00:02:10 And in particular, injuries to just the past catchers that they have here in Carolina. Looking on Wednesday, Tedro McMillan, who's been a sensation for them, the eighth overall pick in a 2025 draft out of Arizona. He was out of practice with a calf injury. And that is something that's concerning because Xavier Legate, their first round pick from last year. He missed last week because of a hamstring. And also was not out there at practice.

Starting point is 00:02:32 They lost Tavion Sanders. Their second year of pass catching tight in with an ankle injury on Sunday. He's out the next couple of weeks. At least to be a week-to-week deal with a high ankle sprain. And then Jalen Coker, their second-year receiver, he's out of a quad injury. You're going to miss again on Sunday because he's on IR to start off the season. So he's not eligible to come back until potentially next week where he will not be back.

Starting point is 00:02:52 So you're missing your top four pass catchers right now, at least looking at it. heading into Thursday's practice. We'll see what the availability is for McMillan and Leggett when that status is actually known on Friday. And then if those guys are able to play on Sunday, Dave Canales, Panthers head coach didn't make it seem to it was that serious with McMillan.

Starting point is 00:03:10 It's just something they want to monitor early on in the week. So we'll see I figure he'll probably be good, but he's not. And if Leggett can't go, and of course Sanders and Coker aren't going to play, then it's down to Hunter Infra, David Moore, Bryson, Tremaine, Jimmy Horn, Jr., and Dale Von Campbell, and whoever they may elevate the practice squad. So, yeah, not ideal if that's what can be happening. So, yeah, the injuries to the past catchers,

Starting point is 00:03:33 that is certainly the story at this point in time of the week. Julian, correct me if I'm wrong, man. I was watching. I'll get to the biggest storyline for the Patriots here in a minute, but I was watching that game against the Falcons. And it just feels to me like there's a lack of explosiveness for this Panthers offense aside from Tet McMillan. Is that what you've seen?

Starting point is 00:03:51 Is there that lack of explosivity down the field aside from the rookie? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, he has been their guy so far this season. Hunter Renfro did have a pair of touchdown receptions in week two at Arizona during the Panthers comeback attempt, but they have not had a lot of explosive plays. And that's the thing about the victory on Sunday. The offense didn't really play all that well. They were able to capitalize on the opening drive of that game, driving it down, I think 68 yards. And after that, they didn't really have any long sustained drives. They were able to cash in a Mike Jackson interception to seven points later on there in that game. But it wasn't like they were. going up and down the field and doing a ton. So I think there's a little bit of concern just about what they have outside of McMillan, especially because Leggett has not impressed in the first two games this season. And even last year left a lot to be desired. And now McBellan doesn't play.

Starting point is 00:04:38 Like, what is your passing game if you don't have him? Because he is the one guy that can give you some explosive plays. Yeah, Michael Pennix was brutal last week. Yeah. I watched that game. I could not believe how badly he played. Well, you know, Tet McMillan, Xavier Leggett, those guys might be out. Carolina can't do much about it if it's just an injury situation.

Starting point is 00:04:57 The biggest story I think this week for the Patriots, and I could save Christian Gonzalez for a little bit later because I talked about him last week with Chris Carter on the crossover, but it's really about the running back position because last week, as you said, Julian, the Patriots just gave the game away to Pittsburgh. They dominated that game. If you look at every single statistic, Pittsburgh had one first down between the second and third quarters offensively, and they were able to move the ball up and down the field all day long, but it was the fumbles, the fumbles and the turnovers,

Starting point is 00:05:28 Ramandre Stevenson, two fumbles, including one at the half yard line. Antonio Gibson replaces Stevenson during the game at running back, and he fumbles the football. So the biggest question right now is who's going to be running back one? And Trayvion Henderson apparently, reportedly, began drills today at the position, but Trayvon Henderson has gotten off to a very, very slow start. He had three flags thrown against him against Miami. He has struggled in past protection.

Starting point is 00:05:57 He is running into piles. He's not really seeing the field great. So a very slow start. So I'm not really sure who is going to be able to run the football or who the Patriots want to run the football on Sunday against the Panthers. Well, we know how Belichick would handle it. Anybody who fumbles, they're off and they're not coming back to next week. And Vrable, of course, comes from that Belichick tree, his own man.

Starting point is 00:06:19 And he's done it well, especially down there in Tennessee when he had, well, Derek Henry, which is kind of hard not to have a great running game when you have Derek Henry, but he's not had those guys. And that is so interesting to me, because I was, I was watching the ESPN earlier this week was talking about, like, where is Trevion Henderson out there for New England? And, like, he was outstanding at Ohio State. But also, I guess we have to understand that when you're at Ohio State, you're at such a severe talent advantage, especially in the Big Ten to where you're going to always have those holes, which were open, especially during that national title run last year. Now with the Patriots

Starting point is 00:06:51 offensive line, which I know has been rebuilt this offseason. Maybe he's having to learn more of how to play the position at this level. It's just not up to speed at this point in time. But I would think eventually, like he's going to be the guy for New England, right? I mean, I think he will end up being, you know, one of the guys. The one thing about Trayvion is you don't want to give him the brunt of the action. And when they learned that in college at Ohio State, he had his best season when Junkins came in. And they were able to pretty much split.

Starting point is 00:07:17 So I don't think he's a full-time kind of bell cow back. He's not the biggest. guy. So I think you've got to watch the amount of touches that he gets. I was thinking 10 to 15 a week and I still think he'll get there. And I do think that he will have an impact. He had a tremendous camp. He was arguably the best offensive player throughout camp for the Patriots. So the fact that he's off to this slow start, I just think the game is playing a little bit fast for him right now. He's going to slow things down. And the question is how long that will take. Another story is Christian Gonzalez. I will tell you he sounds like he's ready to return this week.

Starting point is 00:07:49 He said today to the media that he wanted to come back last weekend. Mike Vrable said that they were protecting the player last weekend, but he did want to come back. So it looks like Christian Gonzalez will be playing this weekend. The question is, how much will he play? How about you guys? You got another big story you want to toss out there? Yeah, I think right now it's just about can the Panthers continue to play the way they played defensively so far this season. Last year and the year prior was not the standard that people had become accustomed to in the 30-plus years.

Starting point is 00:08:19 of Carolina Panther football last season having the worst scoring defense in the history of the NFL. Granted, it was a 17 game schedule, but didn't really matter. It was awful. And they went out this offseason. They spent money on Bobby Brown, the third from the Rams. They also went out there and brought Charon Barrague over from the Raiders. They spent money on Patrick Jones a second to come over from Minnesota. Like they spent some pretty, and Turk Ward and also from Kansas City.

Starting point is 00:08:42 They were trying to fix what this run defense was, but what this defense was overall. And yeah, not having their frown last year outside of those. opening week game against the Orleans where they didn't get a single defensive stop in that game mind you that did not help matters but so far this season at least the last six quarters since they allowed an opening drive touchdown there in the third quarter against it against Arizona rather coming out the half in week two they pitched a shutout and like yeah michael pinnox junior was awful on sunday i think a lot of that was just him but carolina obviously took advantage and clearly must have confused him in some manner they have not gotten a ton of

Starting point is 00:09:15 pressure at all the season they're actually last looking over at pfs pressure percentage. Thanks our friends are at True Media for that's that. But they've been solid right now, seventh in DVOA, sorry, an EPA, rather, and then they have a ninth, I think it's success rate defensively. So can they continue on that trajectory where they're, at least in some statistical categories, a top 10 defense. Look at total defense is 21st. I don't really care about that. That's a yardage scoring defense. They're eight. Like, that's what actually matters. They're seventh in red zone defense. So they've been through three weeks, but really like the last six quarters, we're five

Starting point is 00:09:48 and a half quarters. They've been a pretty solid. Can that carry over this Sunday against a still young quarterback in Drake Mayhew? I like a lot. Charlotte guy, Tar He also always made a Drake May fan. But Drake has made some mistakes, including last week, where I saw Rable said those turnovers, those are on Drake. And if he's not getting help from his running backs, also putting the ball on the ground, Carolina's got to take advantage like they did last week against Michael Pennix Jr. in the Atlanta Falcons offense.

Starting point is 00:10:11 Yeah, from what I see out of Carolina, good competitive secondary, J.C. Horn's very good. and, you know, I look at Derek Brown, dude's a beast. There's somebody that just buries offensive linemen for a living. So there are some talented cats on that side of the football. Every single week, by the way, there are matchups that swing games up next, Julie and I, and I will tell you which matchup this week stands out the most. It's Lockdown Patriots and Panthers crossover. We are part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day.

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Starting point is 00:12:40 That's W-A-Y-F-A-I-R-com. Wayfair, every style, every home. Julian counsel, Nick Cattels with you here, Lockdown Patriots, Lockdown Panthers' crossover episode, getting all of you ready for the week four matchup between the Panthers and Patriots. Two teams that really had their talent questioned all off-season, two teams that went into the off-season, Julian,

Starting point is 00:13:07 with a focus on just getting talent, frankly, even to the point where both teams were looking at the same guy at Milton Williams, looking at this game coming up on Sunday, give me a marquee matchup that you're really focused on. Yeah, and the whole Milton Williams thing. I think Carolina thought they had that one in the bag. I think New England thought they had it in the bag, too. Thinking Carolina had it in the bag, by the way,

Starting point is 00:13:29 not they themselves had it in the bag. Yeah, and I think the whole paying him more than what you're paying, Derek Brown, would have not really sat right with the organization. also kind of insane, considering like what Milton Williams has done, which has been a lot of good things. But, I mean, come on, let's be real here. But yeah, as far as the matchup I'm looking at in this game, it's the Panthers rushing offense versus the Patriots rushing defense.

Starting point is 00:13:50 If Bryce Young's to be without Tedro-McMillan and have Xavier Legat out for a second week, there's going to be no JT Sanders, of course, no Jalen Coker, and he's having him to rely on David Moore and Hunter Renfro and Bryce and Trayne as his top three, then they're going to have to run the damn ball and be able to move some furniture with the offense. One, which for the second week in a row will be without their starting right guard, Robert Hunt, who's likely out for the season with a torn biceps, and then Austin Corbett, who's out for at least

Starting point is 00:14:16 time being with a grade three MCL sprint. So Cade Mays and Chandell are there at Center and Right Guard, respectively. But looking at the Patriots defense, have been pretty solid so far this season, all beat only through three weeks. They're ninth in EPA against the run. Their eighth in success rate against the run. We get at ESPN, they have their run stop win rates that. They're second.

Starting point is 00:14:36 You look at Harold Landry and Milton Williams, respectively. Both those guys are top 10 and run, stop win rate at their positions. Well, the Panthers haven't really been that dedicated to run the ball. It feels like this season. They did run it to a good amount on Sunday. That was one area offensive where they actually were pretty successful, where Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dado for the first time this season combined for 100 yards on the ground together. The Panthers is only 17th and rushing success rate at this point in time at 6th and run block win rate.

Starting point is 00:15:03 So that's going to be a match. and looking at the panthers off into line, just run game in general versus the Patriots rushing defense, then take the pressure off of Bryce if he's going to be without some of his past top pass catchers this Sunday. To me, it begins and ends with Ted McMillan. And just for the sake of argument here, let's say he is out there. And if you got McMillan out there, it's going to be either Carlton Davis or Christian Gonzalez going to be manning up against him. And Carlton Davis did a good job against D.K. Metcalf last week. He gave up a touchdown, but Metcalf pretty much Mossed him in the end zone. It was a good throw by Aaron Rogers and Metcalf just went up and

Starting point is 00:15:37 gut it and was just a bigger dude, more athletic guy. Carlton Davis is at a very good season so far. He's been really good, especially given the fact that he's playing a role that he wasn't supposed to be playing. He's supposed to be outside corner two, and he's looked at as the guy right now. The biggest issue for the Patriots defense has been giving up big plays. And they gave up some big plays last week. They gave up big plays against Miami. They gave up nine plays of 20 plus yards against the Raiders in week one. So they've got to make sure that they limit those big plays. But I do think, I do think they'll be able to slow down the run game of Carolina.

Starting point is 00:16:11 Because as you've mentioned, they've been solid against the run. Interestingly enough, they started too high safety last week against Pittsburgh for no reason. And Pittsburgh decided to run the football right down their throat. And they changed, they changed that. They put a safety close to the line of scrimmage and they just completely shut down the Pittsburgh run game after that. So they've gotten off to some slow starts defensively. especially against the run, but they've been able to figure it out rather quickly.

Starting point is 00:16:36 For me, I'm looking at this, and I'm saying to myself, you know, that the Henry, Hunter Henry versus linebackers, safety combination. Yeah. I'm telling you right now, if Carolina can slow down Hunter Henry, and by the way, he's dinged up, he was at practice today, but he was a little dinged up in that game on Sunday with the left leg situation. But Hunter Henry has to play well, because if Hunter Henry doesn't play well, I don't know. what this pass offense is for the Patriots right now with with the weapons may has been good but i don't know what you have at receiver if you don't have hunter henry consistently causing some problems especially against the secondary of carolina yeah um yeah i'm disappointed just as a carolina guy that new england still has not put anything around drake may obviously jel and polk that did not work

Starting point is 00:17:23 out and i kind of think back to there's that one video where i saw some people nationally pick it up like oh look at the leadership of drake may when they were just running at think during like rookie minicamp and drake's like hey i'm going to run but i need you to run too and like polk was kind of was not doing that it's like well that's the red flag right there loved them back in washington obviously to not work out he's now down in new england we're sorry new orleans rather so hoping eventually um that the patriots get something around drake great that mike raeble's there um but the fact that you brought up on her henry i think is actually a great point because the panthers defensively have not done a great job against tight ends

Starting point is 00:17:57 except for kyle pits which you know go figure because what has he done at this point in time of his also waiting on Kyle Pitts to break out and be that guy of a week one week too they really struggled and the guys that you have to point to who have been just awful in coverage have been Christian Roseboom their linebacker and then Tramon Merrick who actually came over to be someone who could really help them stop to run but has not been great in coverage especially against tight-in so far this season according to PFF Roseboom has a 31.7 coverage grade and then Mary has a 46.0 like those guys have just not been great. and Berger's been targeted 14 times. He's allowed 13 receptions for 116 yards. Roseboom been targeted 14 times, a lot of 11 receptions for 143 yards. So that's going to have to be an area that cleans up, especially when you look at, again,

Starting point is 00:18:44 what New England has, and it's not much at wide receiver. And J.C. Horn and Mike Jackson, and J.C. was telling me after the game on Sunday, he feels like they have an underrated unit. Those two, Shaw Smith-Wade, the second year, nickel for them had an interception, that pick six on Sunday that closed out the game against Atlanta.

Starting point is 00:19:00 The Nick Scott has been, fine back there at safety and then of course Mary as well but those corners have been really solid so they're going to have to watch up for Hunter Henry and win that matchup or at least not allow that to be something that kills them like it did in week two and in week one against Arizona and Jackson respectively yeah I mean you said it in the first segment here look Drake may overall has been really good if you look at the you know EPA statistics which you've thrown out a few times during this episode he is an EPA darling right now he's like number one in EPA and late downs. He's number eight, I think, overall in EPA per play.

Starting point is 00:19:35 He's been really good. I just saw today, you know, when you look at the EPA adjusted, he's, I think he's eighth overall in the NFL. But as you mentioned, there's the butt, right? And I'm a, I'm a Drake Bay guy. I think he's going to be really good. I think he's absolutely improved unequivocally. He's a better quarterback right now than he was last year. And, you know, I think he's going to eventually get there but it is oh man if it just wasn't for that turnover if it wasn't just for that one you know decision or or questionable throw if he gets rid of some of that or most of that i mean i i think that the ceiling is so high for drake may and i think that's a good thing for the patriots because as you said they haven't given him a bunch of great weapons and he's still

Starting point is 00:20:21 improving and he's still uh you know getting the most i think out of the guys that he has yeah he's working in a new offensive system with Josh McDaniels as well. So I think he's had a lot pretty much against him. And I think all in all, he's done a good job. So we'll see what Drake does on Sunday against the band. And let me say this too about Drake. He is a guy who has never had a perfect situation, if we're being honest, even back to college at North Carolina.

Starting point is 00:20:45 The offensive line was a disaster, his two seasons as the starting quarterback there. He had to learn a new offense in his final year in Chapel Hill with Phil Long ago, going to Wisconsin, then Chip Lindsay coming over to be his OC. and his numbers weren't nearly the same as they were the year prior. He had Josh Downs, which was great for him. His first year had Amarian Hampton those two seasons. So you look at those two guys. Love Stefan Diggs.

Starting point is 00:21:09 What he's been. Is there a receiver better than Josh Downs in New England right now? Omarion's gotten to a decent start so far in L.A. with the Chargers, but has anyone stood up at this point in time and announced himself about running back? So he's used to not having perfect situations, which I felt like, okay, going to New England. Maybe he'll be all right. But eventually, like, obviously you're going to get him. some better weapons on the outside.

Starting point is 00:21:29 And they did start working on what they have out there on the offense line, Will Campbell, like what he's done so far. So really interesting because I'm a guy who's always checking out to see how Drake plays and how things going on in New England. But yeah, you guys got a good one. Of course, he's got to get rid of some of the stupid stuff, which he obviously did back in Chapel Hill as well. Yeah, I mean, four different offensive coordinators,

Starting point is 00:21:50 the last four seasons playing football. He's been dealt a pretty tough hand. And, you know, I do think Kisham Booty is better than, then people know they've been playing two tight-end sets at awful lot. Now, I'm not telling you anybody scares you in the room. Nobody does. But I do think, you know, Stefan Diggs after the ACL, I'm going to give him some grace here. I'm going to give him, you know, seven, eight weeks to see if he, if he can get a little bit

Starting point is 00:22:13 more juice to his game. He's come up with some big catches on third and fourth down. That's what I will say. I mean, he's not crushing it in statistics in any kind of category. But when it's when they've needed a big play, he's had three or four of those catches, you know, third and eight, he had a fourth down conversion in Miami. So he has helped them in bigger moments, but they've got to get more. And I do wonder if you'll see maybe a little bit more of Kyle Williams this weekend or maybe even Efton Chisholm gets activated because Pop Douglas, who had a fantastic camp, he has just not brushed up on the details.

Starting point is 00:22:44 He's been very inconsistent. And the rapport between he and May has just been off since day one. Can't figure out, not sure. So we'll see if they change some things around. All right, we got three keys, three keys to keep an eye on this Sunday next as we continue with today's crossover. over episode of Lockdown Patriots and Lockdown Panthers as part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. The NFL season is back and honestly there's nothing better than being in the stadium

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Starting point is 00:24:17 It was a disaster. I understand the mess. I'm going to fix the mess. But yeah, I know. And if you didn't pay attention, you skip through the ads. If you want to laugh at me, just go back and watch five seconds of it. it is a disaster uh julian counsel nick cattle's with you here lockdown patriots locked on panthers crossover episode uh we're not going to give you the predictions okay we don't do the predictions

Starting point is 00:24:38 in the final segment here uh we're going to wait until the last episode of the week to give our official prediction for this game but julian we are going to give the three keys to all the people listening and watching so let's start with your first key yeah i mean for me it's take care of the football because you look at new england you look at carolina so far new england has a minus three turnover differential 26th in the league, at least tithe or 26 in the league. Well, Carolina is that a minus one. So far the season, the only game the Panthers have won was when they wanted to turnover margin. And that was on Sunday where they got three turnovers or three takeaways against Atlanta had that one

Starting point is 00:25:11 muff punt, but they're 0 and two in the other games where they spot their opponents, 10 points, 10 to Jacksonville, 10 to Arizona. So that is the top key for me, take care of the football, which you could bring up as a key every single week. But looking at these two teams in particular, Wind New England, the one game, they didn't. turn it all over. They won on the road against Miami. So both these teams have shot themselves in the foot at different times so far this season to start out.

Starting point is 00:25:33 And if Carolina can take care of the ball, they're going to be well on their way to having a chance to win this game on the road. All right. I'll take that point from you, and I will double down with the Patriots because that was actually my first key is take care of the ball after you turned it over five times last week against Pittsburgh. But I will say this, the overall operation, clean things up. You know, I thought Julian, when the Patriots hired Mike Vrable, I said this during the hiring. I said it before the hiring. I wanted Mike Vrable to be the hire before they promoted Gerard Mayo. I, of course, did not know that was an inside deal,

Starting point is 00:26:02 and it was already decided that Gerard Mayo was going to be the guy. But I thought this was going to be a serious football program with Mike Vrable. And what I mean by that is disciplined, detailed, make sure you take care of the football. And frankly, through the first three weeks, that's been overwhelming. Slow starts for this team, especially in the first quarter. You know, a lot of penalty flags, a lot of turnovers. The discipline is just not there. slim margin forever with this team.

Starting point is 00:26:27 So no gifts, no gifts to the Panthers on Sunday. Please just no, stop shooting yourself in the foot. What's your second key? Yeah, second key for me is find a way to run the ball. They really haven't done it to that well of a clue. And that high of eclipse so far this season, as far as they didn't really run at a ton, week one or in week two, and they were behind. And when you have a guy like Chuba Hubbard, who was excellent last year,

Starting point is 00:26:50 he's fifth in success rate among running backs at least 200 plus carries. And then you have Rico Dado, who was six in success rate among running backs who also had 200 plus carries. You would think you'd want to run those guys a little bit more, and they're both coming off a thousand yard rushing season. So there's a lot of people who are hoping that maybe this could be a smash and dash double trouble part two like you used to have with Daniel Williams and Jonathan Stewart back in the day. And that has not necessarily happened so far. So this week, especially if you're going to be down your top pass catchers, got to find a way to run the ball, control the clock on the road there in New England. I want to talk about the big guys up front for my second key. I'm talking interior defensive line versus interior offensive line.

Starting point is 00:27:27 Everybody's going to talk about Milton Williams. And by the way, he was great the first two weeks. He was not as good last week. That could be a little bit of the Steelers just getting rid of the football quickly and what they did offensively. But Williams was really good the first two weeks. Christian Barmore has been up and down, kind of expected after last year in the blood clots. But the name I want to put all the Panthers fans on is Kyrie's Tonga.

Starting point is 00:27:50 Kairi's Tonga is, I will tell you, a revelation for this defense. He was the best defensive player for this team last week. I think he's going to get more snaps. He's been good against the run. He has been really good against the pass. And I look at Cade Mays. I look at Chandler Zavala, your backup center, backup right guard for the Patriots fans that might not know who those two guys are.

Starting point is 00:28:11 And I think if the Patriots can take advantage of that between Williams, Barmore, and Tonga, that's going to make life miserable for Bryce Young and the running backs. The Patriots need to win that matchup on Sunday between the interiors. They need their interior defensive linemen to play really well. What's your final key? Yeah, final key is going to be one on special teams. I know we always focus on what you do offensively, defensively, but Carolina had a decided advantage on special teams on Sunday and that one against Atlanta.

Starting point is 00:28:37 Ryan Fitzgerald, their rookie kicker from Florida State, has been perfect so far on the season, had a 57-yarder on Sunday in that win. And also his kickoffs, he's been doing some sort of knuckleball kickoff, which Atlanta could not field multiple times on Sunday, and that could be a decided advantage, especially in this new dynamic kickoff that they have in the NFL, where, sure, there's more returns, but where are guys going ever into a wall 10 yards in front of them?

Starting point is 00:29:02 Nowhere. So, yeah, I guess it's having the intended effect, but really not doing anything to change the game. But maybe for Carolina, like they did last week, where Atlanta couldn't pick up the ball, that puts New England, like the Balkans, back on their 15 or their 10-yard line. And that could help you out as far as having that offense

Starting point is 00:29:17 pin back, your defense could be aggressive and for some mistake like they did last week with that pick six with Michael Pennix, really just throwing a bad ball in that situation. So, yeah, winning on special teams. That would be my final key for Carolina. It's a great point by you. I mean, Andy Boragallis settled down a little bit the last couple of weeks, but he's been shaky, missed a couple of extra points, missed the field goal. And the Patriots got a couple of good returns the first couple weeks, including a touchdown kickoff return by Antonio Gibson. But last weekend against Pittsburgh, they really struggled. They're really. turn units were not good at all. They got like nothing. They were starting at the 20, 21 yard line all

Starting point is 00:29:53 day long. And Mike Vrable said with the media on Wednesday, he told the media that he sat on Tuesday night and watched the Panthers kickoff coverage and kickoffs for two straight hours. He sat there and spent two hours watching special teams. So he apparently agrees with the Julian council that it's a big deal this weekend. I would say, you know, you mentioned the run game for Carolina. I think it's the same thing with the Patriots. Can the running backs take advantage of some of that Carolina run defense? They are 25th and EPA per rush, 30th and yards per play. Run away from Derek Brown.

Starting point is 00:30:26 Do not run towards Derek Brown. And Drake May, Drake May scrambles all those extra yards, those conversions, they stack up. And he's been fantastic for the most part, aside from the fumble last week. There's that butt again. He's been really good running the football scrambling for 10, 15, 18 yards. So run game. I would say run game. All right.

Starting point is 00:30:46 That wraps up this crossover edition. of Lockdown Patriots and Lockdown Panthers, thank you for making us your first listen and for being in every day. Don't forget to throw a comment in on the YouTube channel, hit that like button and subscribe. And for your second listen, get a double dose of Lockdown NFL podcast

Starting point is 00:31:01 with Tyler the Madman Roland and Tony Wiggins. Find Lockdown NFL on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. Panthers fans, Patriots fans, have a great day. And Julian and I will see you tomorrow. Thank you.

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