INDIVIDUAL NOTES
PATRIOTS START 3-0 FOR THE SIXTH TIME; SECOND TIME UNDER BELICHICK
The New England Patriots are off to a 3-0 start in the preseason for the sixth time in team history (1978, 1981, 1986, 1994, 2003 and 2016) and for the second time under Bill Belichick (2003 and 2016).The Patriots have finished with a perfect 4-0 record in the preseason three times (1978, 1981 and 2003).
JIMMY GAROPPOLO MAKES HIS THIRD START OF THE PRESEASON
QB Jimmy Garoppolo made his third straight start of the preseason.
TOM BRADY MAKES HIS 2016 PRESEASON DEBUT
QB Tom Brady entered the game late in the first quarter for the first time in 2016, and his first pass was a 37-yard completion to WR Aaron Dobson to help set up a 25-yard field goal. Brady led the Patriots to nine points on his first two drives with a field goal and a 33-yard touchdown pass to WR Chris Hogan.
WR JULIAN EDELMAN AND WR KESHAWN MARTIN MAKE THEIR PRESEASON DEBUTS
WR Julian Edelman and WR Keshawn Martin made their 2016 debuts after sitting out the first two games.
LOGAN RYAN RETURNED ON DEFENSE FOR HIS FIRST PRESEASON ACTION
CB Logan Ryan played in his first game of the preseason with a starting assignment at right cornerback. He picked off a QB Cam Newton pass in the first quarter.
GOOD NIGHT FOR THE KNIGHTS
All three Rutgers defensive backs for the Patriots registered interceptions in the game with Logan Ryan, Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon all picking off Carolina passes.
JOE THUNEY STARTS FOR THIRD STRAIGHT GAME
2016 third-round pick OL Joe Thuney was in the starting lineup at left guard for the third straight week.
FOUR 2016 DRAFT PICKS IN THE STARTING LINEUP WITH THUNEY, VALENTINE, ROBERTS AND KARRAS GETTING STARTS
In addition to Thuney, 2016 third-round pick DT Vincent Valentine, and 2016 sixth round picks LB Elandon Roberts and G Ted Karras were also in the starting lineup.
TWO ROOKIE FREE AGENTS PLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME
Rookie free agent TE Bryce Williams and RB D.J. Foster made their NFL debuts after missing the first two preseason games.
S NATE EBNER PLAYS IN FIRST GAME SINCE THE OLYMPICS
S Nate Ebner, who played on the USA Rugby team in the Olympics and missed the first two preseason games, returned to play in his first game of the year.
CHRIS HOGAN HAS FIRST TD AS A PATRIOT
WR Chris Hogan caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from QB Tom Brady in the second quarter for his first touchdown reception as a member of the Patriots. Hogan finished with five receptions for 62 yards and one touchdown.
CYRUS JONES HAS A 60-YARD PUNT RETURN IN THE THIRD QUARTER
Rookie CB Cyrus Jones returned a third quarter punt 60 yards to the Carolina 30-yard line.
BRISSETT THROWS FIRST TD PASS TO CARTER; COMPLETED ALL NINE OF HIS PASSES
Rookie QB Jacoby Brissett threw his first NFL touchdown pass in the third quarter on a 12-yard completion to WR DeAndre Carter. Brissett finished the game 9-of-9 for 85 yards and a touchdown.
