The (2-1) New England Patriots host the (2-1) Carolina Panthers.
The Patriots defense is looking to get on track against the hobbling Panthers offense. Carolina quarterback Cam Newton is dealing with a shoulder and ankle injury, star tight end Greg Olsen is out for the year, and top wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin is dealing with a knee injury and will be limited at best. The top Panthers receiver is a running back, so the Patriots will need to eliminate Christian McCaffrey from the game.
The New England offense is doing just peachy, though, coming off a 36-point performance against a strong Houston Texans defense. The Panthers are another good defense, although the question remains of whether their current ranking is due to the poor San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills offenses; the New Orleans Saints had no problem carving up the Carolina defense.
The Patriots lead the NFL with a 53-17 record under head coach Bill Belichick, along with an NFL-best 49-12 inter-conference record since 2002 (and the realignment), according to the Patriots media guide.
Here’s all the game information below.
Date: Sunday, October 1st, 2017
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Kickoff: 1:00 PM EST
Line: Patriots -9
O/U: 48.5
SB Nation Affiliates: CatScratchReader.com
TV: FOX
Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, with Erin Andrews on the sidelines.
(shout out to the Patriots fans in Wyoming and Nebraska that get to watch this game)
Channels: Courtesy of the New England Patriots media guide.
Massachusetts
Boston, Mass. WFXT Channel 25
Online Streaming: NFL Game Pass for international viewers, 98.5 The Sports Hub Online Radio Stream.
Radio: 98.5 FM, with Scott Zolak and Bob Socci
Additional Information: The Patriots provide an incredible breakdown on their website.