Behind Gronkowski and Dorsett, Patriots go up early and hold on for 27-20 win over Texans taken at Gillette Stadium (Patriots)

(Adam Richins/Boston Sports Journal)

Patriots

Behind Gronkowski and Dorsett, Patriots go up early and hold on for 27-20 win over Texans

By Christopher Price

Sep 9, 2018 • 10:37 am

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FOXBOROUGH — No Julian Edelman? No problem.

The Patriots got a big afternoon from Rob Gronkowski, Rex Burkhead and Phillip Dorsett on the way to a 27-20 win over the Texans Sunday in the regular-season opener for both teams.

Tom Brady finished 26-for-39 for 277 yards, throwing three touchdown passes (to Gronkowski, Dorsett and James White) on the way to the victory. New England never trailed on the afternoon, taking leads of 7-3 after one quarter and 21-6 at the half on the way to its ninth win in the last 10 home openers.

The Patriots were helped in the first half by a wildly ineffective Houston red-zone offense — the Texans had to settle for a pair of field goals in the early going, despite good field position. (Tyrann Mathieu had a first-quarter pick of Brady that gave Houston the ball at the New England 17, but Houston only managed a field goal.) They were unable to make up the difference.

Deshaun Watson finished 17-for-35 for 176 yards with one touchdown and one interception, but Houston could only find the end zone once in the first three quarters, when a third-quarter touchdown cut the New England lead to 24-13. (The Texans cut it to 27-20 with a late touchdown pass, but could get no closer.)

Trey Flowers and Deatrich Wise did well when it came to getting after the quarterback (1.5 sacks each), while Stephon Gilmore added an interception in the win.

IN-GAME/PRE-GAME UPDATES



4:13 p.m.: That's it -- 27-20.

4:13 p.m.: Gronk as the deep safety.

4:09 p.m.: Hey, that Ryan Allen is all right.

4:07 p.m.: All right, so we're all going to hang on here for the last minute or so.

4:00 p.m.: Houston has all three time outs and the two-minute warning. Which means the Pats will need two first downs.

3:58 p.m.: And Watson makes em pay. -- 27-20. Onside kick? Or just boot it out of the back of the end zone?

3:57 p.m.: Gilmore has been playing really well until this drive. Two bad penalties.

3:56 p.m.: You're going to get in trouble if you overpursue on Watson.

3:51 p.m.: Riley McCarron with the fumble. I mean, if Houston can't get seven here, I'm not sure what to think.



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