TEAM TALK
- Patriots - Panthers Thursday Injury Report.
- Erik Scalavino shares some practice notes and locker-room buzz from Thursday at Gillette: Defense on the offensive.
- Paul Perillo scouts the matchups: The toothless Panthers attack might be the perfect remedy for the Patriots ailing defense.
- What They're Saying: Carolina Panthers.
- Press Pass: Carolina Challenges. (1 min. video)
- Steve Burton goes One-On-One with Brandin Cooks. (3.02 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Michael Hurley tells us what to be looking for when the Patriots and Panthers kick off: Defense. Defense. Defense.
- Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) Patriots Gameplan: Week 4 vs. Carolina Panthers.
- David Albiani (Cover32) Patriots keys to victory vs. Panthers.
- Mike Giardi sees the Panthers as a perfect opportunity for the defense to get right, and keep a struggling Panthers offense down.
- Ryan Hannable is wondering what happened to Cam Newton, who was supposed to be on Tom Brady’s level by now.
- Phil Perry notes that Cam Newton is still dealing with what head coach Ron Rivera calls a 'new reality': An offense for "an older guy," that wants to limit scrambles.
- Mike Giardi spotlights Christian McCaffrey's versatility as worthy of some serious attention.
- Kevin Dillon reviews the film to tell us what to expect from Christian McCaffrey.
- Mike Giardi notes that so far this year, Dion Lewis has been the odd man out of a crowded backfield: 'When I get my chance, you'll see a lot of special things.'
- Kevin Duffy wonders if little-used Dion Lewis is the solution to the Patriots ground game woes.
- Zack Cox notes Bill Belichick hasn't called Dion Lewis' number much this season, but that doesn't mean he's not pleased with him.
- Ryan Hannable says Rex Burkhead appears unlikely to play for a second straight game.
- Ryan Hannable reveals that growing up Rob Gronkowski was also a stud defensive end. Gronk suggests that "maybe one day I'll switch to it."
- Jeff Howe talks about how Malcolm Butler puts in the work and gets his mojo back.
- Doug Kyed helps us get to know Cassius Marsh, the Pats' recent pass-rush addition.
- Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Danny Amendola gives shout-out to equipment manager for finding new, more protective helmet.
- Jeff Howe Patriots Mailbag: Six unrealistic trade scenarios, Pats' best NBA Jam duo and Tom Brady's greatness.
- Doug Kyed Patriots Mailbag: Should Dion Lewis be traded for defensive help?
- WEEI re-posts an Instagram from Tom Brady getting into the #TBT game, posting a picture of him in Italy with his wife Gisele Bundchen.
- Jeff Howe (VSporto) The Jeff Howe Show: The Pats defense is suspect, but so is the rest of the NFL. (22 min. podcast)
- Jim Lazar makes noise about the worst defense in football and makes his Week 4 picks. Pats 27-16.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Mike Renner (Washington Post) The biggest problem with the Patriots' defense may be Bill Belichick's philosophy.
- Aaron Schatz (ESPN) Super Bowl D-mise? Why Patriots are long shots.
- Kristian Dyer (Sporting News) Darrell Green passes ‘Ageless Wonder’ nickname to Tom Brady.
- Sarah Hardy, et al (SB Nation) 7 things to watch in NFL’s Week 4: Tom Brady could set yet another record.
- Andy Benoit (SI) NFL Week 4: Texans game plan with Deshaun Watson; Plus, why the Patriots might need a different approach to stopping Carolina’s run game; More.
- Robert Mays (The Ringer) The potential and pitfalls of building an offense without a traditional No. 1 wide receiver. Pats included in discussion.
- Danny Kelly (The Ringer) The rise of the NFL air back: How backs who blur the line between runner and receiver are testing NFL defenses.
- Photo Essays (NFL.com) Mind-boggling stats for 2017 Week 4. Tom Brady is one win away from tying record for most wins by a starting QB in NFL history.
- Brent Sobleski (Bleacher Report) Pull the plug: One player every NFL team should bench. Patriots: DT Adam Butler.
- Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Can NFL's preseason Super Bowl favorites fix their biggest issues?
- Stephen Holder (Indy Star) How hoops star Jacoby Brissett became a slam dunk for the Colts.
- Will Leitch (Sports on Earth) NFL Confidence Pool: Week 4. Pats over Panthers.
- Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) NFL Week 4 Picks. Patriots 28-24.
- Matt Chatham (Football by Football) The Real Thing Patriots Podcast: Week 4: Texans Review, Panthers Preview. (1.46 hour podcast) /Politics-free.
VIEW FROM CHARLOTTE
- Max Henson (Panthers.com) Tom Brady and the unpredictable Patriots' attack.
- Jared Allen (Panthers.com) A pest of the past, Cooks is a concern.
- David Newton (ESPN) Panthers' Kelvin Benjamin to start despite setback to left knee.
- Joseph Person (Charlotte Observer) Carolina Panthers digging in for game on Patriots’ soft field surface.
- Joseph Person (Charlotte Observer) For Panthers, game against Patriots in 2013 was about more than controversial ending.
- Jourdan Rodrigue and Joe Person (Charlotte Observer) He said, she said: Will Panthers beat the Patriots? (3.11 min. video)
EXTRACURRICULAR
- Riley McAtee (The Ringer) Danny Trevathan’s vicious hit on Davante Adams was a painful reminder of the NFL’s head trauma problem.
- Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) Danny Trevathan needs to be suspended for dirty hit on Davante Adams.
- Claire McNear (The Ringer) Knowledge Is life: The CTE breakthrough and the burden of understanding.
- Barry Wilner (AP) Top-testing helmet being used by small number of NFL players.
- Matt Clapp (Awful Announcing) CBS has an unfortunate hot mic moment during Thursday Night Football.
- Neil Best (Newsday) Fox won’t show national anthem again this week, Fox Sports prez says. Includes Pats-Panthers.
- Alex Putterman (Awful Announcing) Katie Nolan will reportedly get an early release from Fox Sports.
- Andrew Bucholtz (Awful Announcing) Facebook signs two-year deal to show NFL highlights right after games, have NFL create highlights shows.