The New England Patriots came away with an impressive 24-6 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. It was a huge victory for Mac Jones and Co. as they now sit half a game behind the Buffalo Bills for first in the AFC East.

Bill Belichick's team missed the playoffs last season, but they have looked good this year after a ton of offseason moves. Rookie quarterback Jones has played well, helping them be a competitive team.

With that said, here are three takeaways from the Patriots' impressive Week 9 win over the Panthers.

New England Patriots Week 9 Takeaways vs. Buffalo Bills

3. Mac Jones is the franchise quarterback

Jones hasn't put up elite numbers, but he has helped them win games. He has been a great game manager and has allowed the defense to play at a high level. Against the Panthers, Jones threw for 139 yards along with one touchdown and only one interception.

While the numbers don't show it, Jones has proven that he is the solution for New England at the quarterback position. Jones should continue his solid rookie campaign and lead the team to the playoffs.

2. Patriots' defense is elite

The Patriots have an elite defense, which could very well guide them to a playoff run. They have talented players on all three levels of the defense and have a great scheme under Belichick.

Matthew Judon was one of the biggest additions in the offseason, and he had a sack against the Panthers. They also picked off Sam Darnold three times, making it easier for the offense to score points.

New England could make a real run in the playoffs with an elite defense and above-average offense.

1. Patriots can win the division

The Patriots are only a half-game behind the Bills for first place in the AFC East. Although the Bills have a more well-rounded roster, they suffered a devastating loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. This win over a decent Panthers team has propelled New England back into contention for the division title.

Over the past two decades, it was almost guaranteed that the Patriots would win the division with Tom Brady at the helm. Last season, they struggled to even make a playoff push as Cam Newton was unreliable. To be fair, they didn't have many weapons for him to throw to.

After drafting Jones in the first round, the Patriots made other moves to vastly improve the team. The addition of tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry have opened up the vertical passing game and provided Jones with reliable red-zone targets.

This season, Jones has thrown for 2,135 yards along with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His development will be essential for New England as they move forward in the season.

Belichick was super aggressive in putting a team together that could make it back to the postseason. While they aren't a Super Bowl contender like they were with Brady, Patriots fans should be happy with how the roster is performing.

After a dominant win over the Panthers, who have a talented roster, the Patriots move on to play the Cleveland Browns. This will be another big test as the Browns are coming off a 41-16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. They are another team trying to make a playoff push, and this game could determine seeding down the line.

Look for Jones to lead the Patriots to a playoff berth for the first time since Brady left.