Returns in, news not good

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- After giving up a blocked extra point and blocked punt last week in the season opener against Oakland, the Patriots looked for better play from their special teams.

Well, at least there wasn't a kick blocked.

The Panthers averaged 21.3 yards on six punt returns, and 26.3 yards on four kickoff returns, helping them to an average starting position of their 38-yard line, compared to the Patriots' average start at their 22.

Carolina's Chris Gamble had a 76-yard punt return to set up a second-quarter touchdown.

''It just comes down to guys making the play and being in position," special teams stalwart Don Davis said. ''Myself, on the long punt return, I was totally out of position.

''It comes down to everybody getting better. I take responsibility for it; the guys on this team will take responsibility for it.

''It has nothing to do with scheme or anything else. You just got to make the play."

It could have been worse, as the Panthers' Steve Smith had a 77-yard touchdown on a punt return in the fourth quarter nullified by a penalty. Punter Josh Miller was shaken up on the play making a futile dive at an attempted tackle. He was moving fine in the locker room after the game.

Last year, New England was fifth worst in the NFL defending punt returns (11.8 yards a return), and it was a point of emphasis for coach Bill Belichick in the offseason.

Through two games in 2005, the Patriots are giving up 19 yards a return.

''Nothing at all has changed, really," he said. ''We really take a lot of pride in that and it's something we have to hone in on and get better at. Everything comes down to a little play here, a little play there. We're going to definitely take a hard look at ourselves.

''When special teams don't play well, it hurts our offense and our defense."

Lacking evidence

The Patriots could have challenged two plays, but elected not to. Belichick said he didn't believe there was enough evidence to challenge the officials' calls.

The most questionable one was Carolina's first touchdown, a 1-yard run by Stephen Davis.

Actually, it was a two-thirds-of-a-yard run, as he put the ball down about a foot shy of the end zone.

Davis lost the ball and while players fought to recover it, an official signaled for the touchdown.

''I asked the ref about it and the ref said it was a fumble and the guy recovered it in the end zone," Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour said. ''They said it was a touchdown and really wasn't reviewable.

''Still, that's no excuse for what happened in the game. We had more than enough opportunities to win the football game. I don't know how many plays were in the ballgame, but that one didn't decide the game."

Quarterback Tom Brady lost the ball in the third quarter after being hit by Michael Rucker. Brady said by rule, the play is deemed a fumble.

It went a long way

Troy Brown had the second-longest reception of his 13-year career, with a 71-yard catch-and-run in the first quarter.

Carolina lost Brown in coverage on a short out. He took the quick throw from Brady and took off down the sideline. Ken Lucas had an angle on him and managed to knock him out at the 1-yard line.

''It felt good, it got me loose," Brown said. ''If we could have made a couple more plays like that, it would have been a great day if we would have won."

The play was the longest non-touchdown play of Brown's career. His longest reception is an 82-yard score against Miami in 2003.

Gay, Neal hurt

Randall Gay, who started at corner for Tyrone Poole, left the game with an apparent knee injury with 14:39 left in the second quarter and did not return. Offensive tackle Stephen Neal left the game with a back injury. Russ Hochstein, his replacement, twice was flagged for false starts. . . . No. 3 quarterback Matt Cassel and receiver Bethel Johnson were among the eight inactives. Linebacker Tully Banta-Cain (knee), cornerbacks Poole (ankle) and Chad Scott (shoulder), tackle Brandon Gorin (thigh), safety James Sanders (ankle), and receiver Andre' Davis (foot) didn't make the trip . . . The game was the third regular-season contest between the teams. Carolina won the first matchup, 20-17, at Foxboro Stadium in 1995, while the Patriots claimed the most recent tilt, 38-6, in the 2001 season. And, of course, the Patriots hold a 1-0 edge in the postseason with a 32-29 Super Bowl victory Feb. 1, 2004 in Houston . . . Kicker Adam Vinatieri hosted former Patriots punter Ken Walter and his son at yesterday's game. Walter's final game as a Patriot was the Super Bowl win over Carolina, and he was the holder for Vinatieri's winning 41-yard field goal with four seconds remaining. In 2004, he punted in six games for the Seahawks, but was not re-signed for this season.

Jerome Solomon can be reached at jsolomon@globe.com