CHARLOTTE – Scott Chandler’s touchdown Friday night against the Panthers launched the celebration that launched several thousand smiles.
Chandler had to settle for a celebratory head-butt.
“I’ve been watching Tom give guys head-butts for years and I was glad to finally get one,” Chandler said, referring to the helmet-ramming he got from quarterback Tom Brady after pulling in an 18-yard touchdown with 50 seconds left in the half.
It had to feel good for Brady as well, who had virtually nothing to show for his previous 11 drives of the preseason to that point. Friday night’s work summary before the touchdown was four three-and-outs and two drives ended by picks.
You could see from the press box Brady’s frustration mounting after each drive ended with nothing. Shoulders slumped, he’d march to his spot on the end of one bench, hook his helmet on a post, sit down with elbows on knees and then stare at the ground.
If Brady’s night was going to end with the last drive of the first half, regardless of how it ended, that was one he needed. And Chandler helped make it happen.
New England Patriots
“It felt good to get the ball rolling, get that first one, and just move down the field. Tom did a great job,” Chandler said. “When you go out there on the football field, no matter preseason [or] practice, you want to perform well. I don't know we were doing that up to that point, but it was good to put a drive together at the end of the half."
Chandler played 16 snaps Friday night and was targeted four times. He caught three for 40 yards. On the touchdown, he was at the left sideline – an illustration of how well he runs for a 6-foot-7 guy – and got a step on talented linebacker Thomas Davis. Brady floated a touch pass in Chandler’s direction that eluded the leap of Davis and fell softly into Chandler’s hands.
“Tom made a great throw, and when it’s there you catch it,” said Chandler. “It’s right there.”
Chandler didn’t play in either of the Patriots first two preseason games and has been out of practice with an injury for two weeks.
Brady’s been operating with a skeleton crew at receiver so having Chandler available was a boon. But it wasn’t until that last drive – 7 plays and 80 yards – that he was able to finish one off.
Chandler hadn’t seen his wife’s tweet showing the chaos the touchdown touched off, but he will have by now.
“It’s fun to come home to those three,” he said. “They are the light of my life.”