JEROD MAYO MAKES HIS DEBUT AS HEAD COACH
Jerod Mayo, hired on January 17, 2024 as the 15th head coach in team history, made his NFL debut as a head coach in a 17-3 win over Carolina. Mayo is the fourth person to be named head coach after playing with the same team under the previous coach (Bill Belichick) since the 1970 merger. The others are Minnesota’s Mike Tice (under Dennis Green), Washington’s Jack Pardee (under George Allen) and Green Bay’s Bart Starr (under Dan Devine).
PATRIOTS DEFENSE SCORES FIVE SACKS
The Patriots defense recorded five sacks against Carolina, with one each coming from LB Christian Ellis, DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr., LB Oshane Ximines, DE Deatrich Wise Jr. and DE Josh Morgan. Last season, the Patriots recorded five sacks in a game twice, five sacks in Denver (12/24) and six sacks at the New York Giants (11/26).
David Andrews and Kyle Dugger served as game captains for the coin toss.
JACOBY BRISSETT STARTS
QB Jacoby Brissett started the game and played the first series of the game. Brissett will be the 30th player to make at least two appearances with the Patriots since 2000 (each appearance with at least one game on the Patriots’ active roster; with at least one game on another team’s active roster in between). Brissett originally joined New England as a third-round draft pick in 2016 and played in three games with two starts as a rookie. He was traded to Indianapolis at the end of training camp in 2016 and also played with Miami, Cleveland and Washington before being re-signed with the Patriots this past offseason.
DRAKE MAYE MAKES NFL DEBUT IN SECOND OFFENSIVE BALL
Quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots’ 2024 first-round draft pick, entered the game on the second offensive possession. His first pass resulted in a 13-yard gain to RB Antonio Gibson. He also had a 6-yard pass to RB Kevin Harris.
ZAPPE COMES INTO THE GAME IN THE THIRD ROW
QB Bailey Zappe entered the game on the third offensive series and played the rest of the first half and into the third quarter, completing 12 of 20 passes for 108 yards. He completed a 28-yard pass to WR Kayshon Boutte to give the Patriots their first touchdown.
MILTON COMES INTO THE GAME TOWARDS THE THIRD QUARTER
Quarterback Joe Milton III, a 2024 sixth-round draft pick, entered the game late in the third quarter, completing his first pass to wide receiver Javon Baker for a 5-yard gain. He also completed a 38-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver JaQuae Jackson in the fourth quarter, finishing 4-of-6 for 54 yards.
