The Panthers’ Frankie Luvu had already scooped up the loose ball by the time Mac Jones, still laying on the ground, tugged at Brian Burns’ ankle and didn’t let go.
Earlier in the first-quarter sequence, Burns had sprinted past Hunter Henry’s block and toward Jones on his blind side before knocking the ball out. As Burns rose and tried to race back up into the scramble and block for Luvu, Jones kept holding the defensive end’s ankle and didn’t let go.
That fumble led to a Panthers’ 3-0 lead, though New England scored 24 of the next 27 across the final three quarters en route to its 24-6 win. Burns left the game with an ankle injury, though he eventually returned before leaving with another ankle injury in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Panthers linebacker Haason Reddick called Jones’ hit “completely dirty” and said that he hopes it’s something that the league addresses.
“I think it was surprising to not see that a penalty was called,” Reddick said. “It seems like they always protecting the offensive players. Where is the protection for the defensive players as well? I don’t know. I felt like that was a call that shouldn’t be missed … It looked completely intentional from where I was standing.”
According to the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin, the CBS broadcast said that Jones didn’t like how Burns “danced and celebrated” after a sack when the pair were rivals in high school. Jones attended The Bolles School while Burns attended American Heritage High School, both in Florida. Carolina head coach Matt Rhule said that “maybe a foul should have been called” against Jones after looking at the replay.
“It looked like it was an injury that happened after the play,” Rhule said.
Jones finished 12-of-18 for 139 yards, along with one touchdown and one interception as the Patriots’ dominant defense led the way to victory. Jones’ fumble was the rookie’s fourth of the season and second one he lost. In addition to the forced fumble, Burns recorded five tackles, including four solo tackles, to boost his total to 33 for the season. The third-year player out of Florida State is on track to surpass his previous career-highs in total tackles (58), solo tackles (38) and sacks (9) set last season.
The Patriots pulled within a half game of the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East after their third-straight win was paired with Buffalo’s second loss in three games. The Bills lost 9-6 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Patriots will next host the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 14 at Gillette Stadium.