Check out a selection of the best images from the Patriots preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Friday, August 28, 2015.
A New England Patriots fan holds a sign supporting Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady warms up before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots players warm up before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, left, talks with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, right, before an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) warms up before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) looks to hand the ball off against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Jonathan Stewart (28) is tackled by New England Patriots' Patrick Chung (23) during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Scott Simonson (80) is tackled by New England Patriots' Jerod Mayo (51) and Jamie Collins (91) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sidelines during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) scrambles as Carolina Panthers' Kony Ealy (94) pursues during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) looks to pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
New England Patriots' James Develin (46) runs as Carolina Panthers' Kurt Coleman (20) defends during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots' Brandon Bolden (38) carries as Carolina Panthers' Kurt Coleman (20) defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) hands the ball off to Brandon Bolden (38) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots' Scott Chandler catches a pass as Carolina Panthers' Bene' Benwikere (25) defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots' Scott Chandler (88) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
New England Patriots' Scott Chandler (88) catches a touchdown pass as Carolina Panthers' Thomas Davis (58) defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, right, talks to an official during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches the action against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots' Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks to pass against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots' Dion Lewis (33) carries as Carolina Panthers' Melvin White (23) defends during the second half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera, left, greets New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick after a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. The Patriots won 17-16. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
New England Patriots' Stephen Gostkowski (3) kicks a field goal against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. The Patriots won 17-16. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Joe Webb (14) scrambles against the New England Patriots during the second half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. The Patriots won 17-16. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
New England Patriots' Jimmy Garoppolo (10) scrambles past Carolina Panthers' Jason Trusnik (93) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. The Patriots won 17-16. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton, right, hugs New England Patriots' Dont'a Hightower, left, after a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. The Patriots won 17-16. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
New England Patriots' Daxton Swanson, front, defends a pass to Carolina Panthers' Corey Brown during the second half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. The pass was incomplete. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) --At least for one series Tom Brady looked like Tom Brady again.
The four-time Super Bowl champion overcame two early interceptions to lead his first touchdown drive of the preseason as the New England Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 17-16 on Friday night.
New England's first six possessions included four three-and-outs and two Brady interceptions, although one came when Panthers cornerback Charles Tillman wrestled the ball away from Aaron Dobson on the ground. Brady's other pick came when he fired over the middle in traffic and safety Kurt Coleman stepped in front of the pass.
Before his TD drive, Brady had a quarterback rating of 2.8. He exited at halftime, finishing 7 of 13 for 84 yards.
"We didn't do much offensively," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said when asked to assess Brady's performance.
Brady left without speaking to reporters after the game; the Patriots are not making him available to the media in a preseason that has been a titanic struggle for Brady, who is awaiting word on his appeal of a four-game suspension for his role in "Deflategate."
After managing just three first downs in his first 11 preseason possessions, Brady finally got on track, leading an 80-yard scoring drive before halftime running the hurry-up offense. He capped the drive with a well-placed 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Scott Chandler over the shoulder of linebacker Thomas Davis.
The Patriots played again without tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receivers Brandon LaFell and Julian Edelman.
Carolina managed just two field goals in the first half behind Cam Newton and trailed 7-6 at halftime. Corey Brown bobbled away an easy TD pass from Newton - one of four Carolina drops in the first half.
Newton finished 17 of 28 for 160 yards and a touchdown.
Carolina's first-team offense has had struggles of its own this preseason, scoring 20 points on 15 drives as penalties and drops ruined scoring opportunities.
"As an offense we need to be better," Newton said. "It's frustrating that at halftime, with the defense playing its tails off, and we only had six points."
Observations from the game:
QB COMPARISON
Patriots: Backup Jimmy Garoppolo was 13 of 17 for 126 yards, including a 9-yard TD pass to Dion Lewis.
Panthers: Backup Derek Anderson didn't see much action, going 4 of 5 for 49 yards before being relieved by Joe Webb. Webb misfired on all six pass attempts.
POSITION BATTLES
Patriots: You never know what Belichick is going to do at running back, but neither Brandon Bolden nor Jonas Gray could find any holes early in the game. Bolden had 12 yards on five carries and Gray had 11 yards on five carries.
Panthers: While Brown struggled at wide receiver, Ted Ginn Jr. had a solid game for the Panthers with three catches for 30 yards and also had a 32-yard punt return. He could challenge Brown for a starting job.
FANTASY WATCH
Patriots: Chandler finished with three receptions for 39 yards, including the TD.
Panthers: With Kelvin Benjamin out for the season, look for Pro Bowl TE Greg Olsen to be Carolina's top receiving option this season. He had five catches for 43 yards, although he did have a rare drop. Olsen is coming off a career season in 2014 with 84 receptions for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns.
INJURY UPDATE
Patriots: Backup fullback James Develin was carted off the field in the fourth quarter after injuring his left leg.
Panthers: Tillman (head), WR Jerricho Cotchery (groin), and center Brian Folkerts (ankle) left early. Tillman had an interception and Cotchery had four catches for 38 yards.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU
Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula expressed hope earlier in the week that Brown might step up and become Carolina's No. 1 wide receiver with Kelvin Benjamin out for the season. But Brown has dropped five passes in the last two games. After Brown's third drop, Newton walked over and hugged a dejected Brown on the sideline and patted him on the helmet.
WAYNE'S WORLD
Veteran Reggie Wayne played about 20 snaps after joining the Patriots earlier in the week. He was targeted once on a quick slant, but couldn't come up with the catch.
"You go from on the beach chilling to playing football, so it was definitely a shock to the body," Wayne said.
WHERE'S THE BEEF
For third straight preseason game, the Panthers played without starting defensive end Charles Johnson (calf) and defensive tackles Star Lotulelei (foot) and Kawann Short (back).
