Tom Brady wants to play, Cam Newton will in Panthers-Patriots preseason game

The New England Patriots are unbeaten this preseason, meaning they haven't lost a game since Week 15 of the 2015 regular season. The Patriots are 3.5-point favorites on Thursday night when they host the Carolina Panthers in Week 3 of the preseason. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET from Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.

Let's start with what we know as of this writing for this matchup: Carolina's three most important players will all make their 2019 preseason debut. Those would be quarterback Cam Newton, running back Christian McCaffrey and linebacker Luke Kuechly. None played the first two weeks, with the Panthers winning 23-13 Week 1 in Chicago and losing 27-14 at home last week to Buffalo.

This will be the casual fan's first look at Newton's new throwing motion. He had shoulder surgery back in January and changed his motion to help alleviate pressure on that troublesome right wing. Newton has faced the Patriots twice in the regular season and has a 128.2 passer rating in those games. That's his best against any opponent, and Carolina has won both games.

This also should have some meaning to Kuechly simply as he starred locally in his NCAA career at Boston College. Panthers coach Ron Rivera says he is looking forward to using the Patriots as a bit of a measuring stick for his team so perhaps his starters play a while.

While Newton was the 2015 NFL MVP, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady won it in 2007 & '10. He also hasn't played yet this preseason in which New England has won at Detroit (31-3) and at Tennessee (22-17). Brady has said he would like to go on Thursday but isn't sure if Coach Bill Belichick will let him. Brady usually seems some preseason action, attempting at least 24 passes each of the last six years.

New England and Carolina have played in the preseason every year since 2014 except for 2017. The Panthers had lost the first three but won 25-14 last year as 1-point home underdogs. That was also in Week 3.