New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers: 2021 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-11-07, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 24–6 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

S. Darnold (Carolina Panthers) paced the passing game, with -26.45 total EPA, and -14.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, H. Henry (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.36 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-23.2% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Carolina Panthers changed the game: (7:12) 14-S.Darnold pass short left intended for 80-I.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 27-J.Jackson at NE 12. 27-J.Jackson for 88 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 H. Henry · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.36 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.45 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Bolden · New England Patriots · Rushing · +4.11 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
3. 3 C. McCaffrey · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +3.91 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.78 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Stevenson · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.44 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.72 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Stevenson · New England Patriots · Rushing · +2.83 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Bourne · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.45 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Hubbard · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.90 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Abdullah · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.60 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• New England Patriots — D. Harris (Q2 38:24)
• New England Patriots — H. Henry (M. Jones pass) (Q2 30:29)
• New England Patriots — J. Jackson (Q3 22:12)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — Z. Gonzalez (Q2 42:12)
• Carolina Panthers — Z. Gonzalez (Q2 34:33)
• New England Patriots — N. Folk (Q3 17:24)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–6. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NE 21 (Q2 42:12) — (12:12) 5-Z.Gonzalez 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the CAR 3 (Q2 38:24) — (8:24) 37-D.Harris up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 38:19) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NE 31 (Q2 34:33) — (4:33) 5-Z.Gonzalez 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the CAR 7 (Q2 30:29) — (:29) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short right to 85-H.Henry for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 30:24) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 20 (Q3 22:12) — (7:12) 14-S.Darnold pass short left intended for 80-I.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 27-J.Jackson at NE 12. 27-J.Jackson for 88 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q3 21:55) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the CAR 19 (Q3 17:24) — (2:24) 6-N.Folk 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Carolina Panthers (Q3 22:12) — (7:12) 14-S.Darnold pass short left intended for 80-I.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 27-J.Jackson at NE 12. 27-J.Jackson for 88 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -23.2% · EPA -11.38]
• New England Patriots (Q2 40:28) — (10:28) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short right to 38-R.Stevenson to CAR 24 for 41 yards (4-J.Carter; 21-J.Chinn). [WPA +14.1% · EPA +3.55]
• New England Patriots (Q2 36:31) — (6:31) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short right intended for 16-J.Meyers INTERCEPTED by 9-S.Gilmore at NE 47. 9-S.Gilmore to NE 34 for 13 yards (10-M.Jones). [WPA -14.0% · EPA -5.16]
• New England Patriots (Q1 45:39) — (:39) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones sacked at NE 44 for -9 yards (53-B.Burns). FUMBLES (53-B.Burns) [53-B.Burns], RECOVERED by CAR-49-F.Luvu at NE 40. 49-F.Luvu to NE 33 for 7 yards (76-I.Wynn). CAR-53-B.Burns [WPA -13.9% · EPA -5.63]
• New England Patriots (Q2 30:29) — (:29) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short right to 85-H.Henry for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.0% · EPA +2.89]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Carolina Panthers (Q3 22:12) — (7:12) 14-S.Darnold pass short left intended for 80-I.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 27-J.Jackson at NE 12. 27-J.Jackson for 88 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -23.2% · EPA -11.38]
• New England Patriots (Q1 45:39) — (:39) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones sacked at NE 44 for -9 yards (53-B.Burns). FUMBLES (53-B.Burns) [53-B.Burns], RECOVERED by CAR-49-F.Luvu at NE 40. 49-F.Luvu to NE 33 for 7 yards (76-I.Wynn). CAR-53-B.Burns [WPA -13.9% · EPA -5.63]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 13:38) — (13:38) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass deep left intended for 2-Dj.Moore INTERCEPTED by 27-J.Jackson at NE -5. Touchback. [WPA -1.9% · EPA -5.25]
• New England Patriots (Q2 36:31) — (6:31) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short right intended for 16-J.Meyers INTERCEPTED by 9-S.Gilmore at NE 47. 9-S.Gilmore to NE 34 for 13 yards (10-M.Jones). [WPA -14.0% · EPA -5.16]

Quarterback report card

S.Darnold led all passers in efficiency for Carolina Panthers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• S.Darnold (Carolina Panthers) · 38 dropbacks · 42.1% completion · -14.5% CPOE · -0.70 EPA/play · -26.45 total EPA
• M.Jones (New England Patriots) · 22 dropbacks · 54.5% completion · -1.3% CPOE · -0.16 EPA/play · -3.48 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New England Patriots generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.12 vs -0.42), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Carolina Panthers: 11 drives, -30.77 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 11 drives, -9.52 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• H. Henry (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• S. Darnold (CAR) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 42:12 · NE 21 · Score 0-3
   (12:12) 5-Z.Gonzalez 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.
2. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 38:24 · CAR 3 · Score 6-3
   (8:24) 37-D.Harris up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 38:19 · CAR 15 · Score 7-3
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
4. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 34:33 · NE 31 · Score 7-6
   (4:33) 5-Z.Gonzalez 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.
5. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 30:29 · CAR 7 · Score 13-6
   (:29) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short right to 85-H.Henry for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 30:24 · CAR 15 · Score 14-6
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
7. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 22:12 · NE 20 · Score 20-6
   (7:12) 14-S.Darnold pass short left intended for 80-I.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 27-J.Jackson at NE 12. 27-J.Jackson for 88 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 21:55 · CAR 15 · Score 21-6
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
9. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 17:24 · CAR 19 · Score 24-6
   (2:24) 6-N.Folk 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.