CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Last Sunday, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales handed the game ball to rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald and praised his special teams' efforts.

This Sunday, he took accountability after the New England Patriots flipped field position on punts, Fitzgerald missed kicks, and the Panthers lost a lopsided effort.

New England beat Carolina 42-13 in Week 4 by taking advantage of short fields and finishing drives with touchdowns.

Marcus Jones had a team-record 167 punt return yards for the Patriots, including an 87-yard touchdown in the first quarter. It's the second-most punt return yards ever given up by the Panthers, falling one yard short of the mark the Broncos set against Carolina in 1997.

The punt return touchdown came after a Canales decision to punt the ball

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