Carolina’s 0-3 road start contrasts with a tight 30-0 home win over Atlanta as the Panthers pivot toward a tough Sunday clash with Miami. Derrick Brown stands out as a beacon on a still-developing defense, offering a steady floor with tackle volume and strong run defense as the unit slowly builds under Ejiro Evero. The Panthers sit mid-pack defensively, but Brown’s progression and Panthers’ rookie tease hint at upside in future matchups.

Brown’s pace and run-stopping grade anchor a defensive retooling that also features a wider field of interior defenders in the league’s early All-Pro evaluations. Brown sits seventh on the Panthers in tackles while delivering two QB hits and two passes defensed, and his 78.9 grade signals genuine impact against the run despite overall defensive growing pains. Two Panthers rookies are making noise in limited snaps, while Bryce Young’s lingering issues raise questions about development as Carolina looks to turn the corner this season.

Gonzalez returns as the Patriots finally get their starting corner trio back, anchoring a healthier defensive unit for Week 4 against Carolina. With Davis outside and Jones or Austin in the slot, New England’s secondary is the unit to watch as they try to slow a Panthers receiving corps led by Tetairoa McMillan. The line minimal changes aside from Wilson’s absence, Ben Brown steps in at left guard, and the offense lines up to counter Derrick Brown’s interior push.

The game-day roster also features elevated practice-squad depth and a handful of inactives, underscoring the Patriots’ focus on ensuring stability on both sides of the ball. For fantasy bettors, the restored defense presents a streaming opportunity, while the Patriots’ offense looks to maintain consistency behind a shuffled line in a pivotal Week 4 showdown at Gillette.

Patriots vs Panthers kicks off at 1 p.m. ET; keep an eye on Gonzalez’s exposure and how the corner rotation impacts overall pass defense and fantasy upside for NEP defenders and Panthers pass-catchers alike.