Getty Mac Jones will see the field vs. the Panthers in Week 2 of the preseason.
Tempers are likely to still be raw when the New England Patriots host the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 of the NFL preseason on Friday. The two teams have already done battle during a joint practice session this week that ended in a brawl involving All-Pro Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey and an injured fan.
Hostilities will be renewed while both teams continue to look for the right formula on both sides of the ball. The Panthers appeared to get the balance right during a 23-21 win over the Washington Commanders in Week 1, while the Pats fell to the New York Giants by the same scoreline.
Quarterbacks will naturally be under the spotlight, with Panthers head coach Matt Rhule looking for improvement from rookie Matt Corral. Meanwhile, New England starter Mac Jones will try to make the most of a few valuable snaps.
The game (7 p.m. ET) will be televised locally on different channels depending on the city: FOX (WJZY-46) in Charlotte, CBS (WBZ-4) in Boston, and either ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW or MyTV in other local markets (full list here). It will also be televised on NFL Network for anyone out of market.
If you don’t have cable and you live in market, FuboTV and DirecTV Stream are your best options, as they have all the local channels in most markets and both come with a free trial.
If you live out of market, FuboTV and Sling TV both include NFL Network and are our recommended options.
Here’s a more complete rundown and some other ways you can watch a live stream of the Panthers vs Patriots:
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FuboTV: Watch Most Local Channels & NFL Network
You can see what local channels are available in your city here
You can watch a live stream of NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, CW, MyTV (all live in most markets), NFL Network and 100-plus other TV channels on FuboTV’s “Pro” bundle, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the Panthers vs Patriots live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
Amazon Prime: Watch CBS
This option is just for those who live in Boston, Greensboro or anywhere the game is on CBS
Amazon Prime subscribers (Prime comes with a 30-day free trial) can watch a live stream of their local CBS station via the Prime Paramount+ channel (“Premium” plan). You can try both Amazon Prime and the Paramount+ Channel at no cost with a free trial right here:
Once you’re signed up for the Prime Paramount+ Channel, you can watch the Panthers vs Patriots live on the Amazon Video app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, various smart TV’s, Xiaomi, Echo Show or Echo Spot, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Amazon website.
DirecTV Stream: Watch Most Local Channels
You can see what local channels are available in your city here. NFL Network is not included, so this is an in-market option only
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, CW and MyTV (all live in most markets) are included in every one, and you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch the Panthers vs Patriots live on the DirecTV Stream app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the DirecTV Stream website.
Sling TV: Watch NBC, Fox & NFL Network
You can see what local channels are available in your city here
You can watch a live stream of NBC, Fox (both live in select markets), NFL Network and 40-plus other TV channels via Sling TV’s “Sling Blue” package. It doesn’t come with a free trial, but it’s the cheapest long-term streaming service with NFL Network, and you can get your first month for half off:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch the Panthers vs Patriots live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Sling TV website.
Paramount+: Watch CBS
This option is just for those who live in Boston, Greensboro or anywhere the game is on CBS
This is ultimately the same as the Amazon Prime option above, only you’ll watch on Paramount’s digital platforms instead of Amazon’s. You can watch your local CBS channel live via Paramount+ (“Premium” plan), which comes with a free trial:
Once signed up for Paramount+, you can watch the Panthers vs Patriots live on the Paramount+ app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Samsung Smart TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Paramount+ website.
DAZN: Watch in Canada
Viewers in Canada can watch a live stream of every NFL game (preseason, regular season, postseason), NFL Network and NFL RedZone via DAZN, which comes with a free trial:
Once signed up, viewers in Canada can watch the Panthers vs Patriots live on the DAZN app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Samsung Smart TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch the game on your computer via the DAZN website.
Panthers vs Patriots Preview
Jones is expected to see the field, along with other key starters. The second-year signal-caller needs to build on recent progress described by Mike Dussault of the team’s official site: “Jones is looking more comfortable and has shown an increased focus on pushing the ball down the field.”
Becoming more adept at launching the ball vertically won’t be easy for Jones. He ranked 21st among deep passers last season, according to Bryant Horn of Pro Football Focus.
Jones’ chances of improving his vertical game will hinge on the protection in front of him. That protection was routinely tested by the Giants, who blitzed more than Patriots head coach Bill Belichick deemed appropriate for preseason, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan:
Wink Martindale asked about the insinuation from Bill Belichick that the Giants blitzed a lot (too much) in the preseason opener.
“We’re on to Cincinnati,” he says with a smile.
Belichick may not welcome a visit from the Panthers, who send pressure more than most in defensive coordinator Phil Snow’s system, something highlighted by author Cody Alexander:
The Panthers will want to be physical early and make life uncomfortable for Jones and the Patriots’ starters. That desire is likely compounded after the way the two teams mixed it up during practice on Wednesday, August 17.
Things became heated when McCaffrey felt Pats defensive tackle Deatrich Wise Jr. had delivered a cheap shot, per The Guardian. One unfortunate onlooker also suffered when the melee spilled over onto the sideline: “The 275lb Wise also fell on a fan during the incident. The woman suffered a swollen foot but insisted she did not need medical treatment. Wise and McCaffrey gave personal apologies to the fan and the Patriots gave her free tickets to a game in the upcoming season.”
Tempers continue to flare at the Patriots/Panthers joint practice
via @MikeyInTheTruck
If the Panthers are going to emerge as winners in a more competitive game, their quarterbacks will need to produce. That’s something they didn’t do against the Commanders.
The Panthers’ third-round pick this year, Corral is expected to vie with P.J. Walker for a backup job while Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold compete to start. Corral’s first audition didn’t go well, with PFF’s Michael Renner outlining the struggles: “Corral just looked uncomfortable. While some of that can be chalked up to the line he was playing behind, it can’t excuse just how ugly his ball placement was on quick, easy throws.”
If Corral was confused, he won’t relish going against a Belichick-coached defense. The Patriots are renowned for keeping quarterbacks guessing with multiple fronts and disguised coverage, things they can be expected to show even during preseason when teams often favor bland gameplans.
A win looks likely for the Pats, who own the stronger roster, something that will show when the starters are on the field.