Perhaps to avoid creating controversy over the identity of his starting quarterback in the first week of the regular season, Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule bet Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold in a 20-10 loss to the New at Gilette Stadium on Friday England Patriots on the bench.
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However, Rhule had reiterated at the start of training camp that this clash against the ‘Pats’ would be crucial to a possible election, while rumors had been circulating for the past week that Mayfield would be the lucky one chosen.
Without the two pivots, Matt Corral and PJ Walker were unable to top 170 yards through the air, even when combining their results. Walker was also the victim of two interceptions.
In the crowd-pleaser camp, second quarterback Mac Jones only had time to throw the ball eight times before retiring and catching Nelson Agholor on a 61-yard throw.
Running back Ty Montgomery had the only offensive major of the game with a two-yard run in the second quarter.