FOXBOROUGH – This column correctly predicted that we would see more of Mac Jones in the second preseason game.
And see him we did, for the entire first quarter. The Patriot varsity offense was pitted against the second defense of the Carolina Panthers. Head coach Matt Ruhle elected to keep out his starters on both sides of the ball, largely due to the fact that the teams had two very contentious (at times) joint practices this week. So Patriot fans were denied the chance to see two former AFC quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, duke it out for the starting job for the Panthers.