FOXBOROUGH — Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ victory over the Texans in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Brady ends up with an efficient game: It wasn't exactly a sharp start for the Patriots' offense, as six of their first seven possessions totaled less than 25 yards each. But by the end of the game, Tom Brady had put together an efficient game, going 26-of-39 for 277 yards and three touchdowns (one interception off a tip). Brady had a 66.7 completion percentage and a passer rating of 102.2. While Rob Gronkowski was the focal point, Brady threw to nine different targets, including fullback James Develin (four catches). This was basically a kitchen-sink game on offense — and you expect it will be that way, at least until Julian Edelman returns. "Didn’t get into the rhythm that we probably would have liked to get into, but made enough plays," Brady said. "(We have) got to do basically everything better. But it’s still great to get a win and be 1-0."
Defense makes DeShaun Watson look human: In Week 3 as a rookie last season, DeShaun Watson looked like Superman, as he shredded the Patriots' defense with 301 yards passing, another 41 on the ground and two touchdowns. A little less than a year later — and with Watson coming back from ACL surgery — he didn't look close to his old self. He completed just 50 percent of his passes for 176 yards, but did run for 40. While Watson certainly had a lot of rust, the Patriots did a much better job corraling him and getting pressure (three sacks, another nine hits). "We certainly played him better than we did last year -- not that that would take much," said Bill Belichick. "Yeah, I mean, again, no one guy can stop Watson, so it's got to be team defense."
Gameplan, line keep Brady relatively clean: A year ago against the Texans, Brady was sacked five times and pressured 23 times total for a pressure rate of 52.3 percent, which is absurdly high. On Sunday, Brady was sacked twice, hit another three times officially, and his pressure rate was likely much less. The trio of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus were held just two hits officially. You have to give the offensive line, which featured Trent Brown playing the entire game at left tackle and Marcus Cannon/LaAdrian Waddle on the right, a ton of credit. The Patriots' gameplan was also varied and designed to slow up the Texans. "He gets the ball out of his hands very quickly, they chip -- I mean, they use Gronk to chip, they use Dwayne (Allen) to chip, they use their backs to chips," Watt said. "You know they’re going to have the guards slide out to help on the edges, they’re going to have double teams, they’re going to find ways to protect and then you got to find ways to win. It’s all part of the game. They do a great job making sure that Tom’s good back there."
TURNING POINT
With 1:05 left in the second quarter and the Patriots leading 14-6, Brady dropped back to pass and found Gronkowski against double coverage and the tight end came up with the ball with no space to operate for 28 yards down to the Houston 31-yard line. He bobbled the ball a bit as he went to the ground, and the play was close enough for a review. Bill O'Brien didn't call a timeout as the Patriots rushed to get a play off. The league headquarters did buzz Tony Corrente for a review, but it was after a play — in which Rex Burkhead fumbled but Hogan recovered. Four plays later, the Patriots scored a touchdown to go up 21-6 at halftime. Huge swing.
Said Gronkowski: "When I was running up the seam, I had two guys on me and when I saw the ball in the air I literally thought first thing, 'What is Tom thinking?' When that ball was in the air, I had a guy grabbing me and I was just like, 'I’ve just got to go for it.' I can’t let them make a play on it, so just went up for it, made the catch. I did make the catch. I don’t know how. When I went to the ground, I had it stable in my hand, so it was definitely a catch, but Tom went up to the line really quick just to make sure. We got the play off, which was nice."
SECOND GUESS
It would have to be O'Brien's decision not to call a timeout in order to assure a review of the Gronkowski play, which is something Belichick did later in the game.
"That’s not my job to call a timeout, to make their job easier," O'Brien said. "You know, what I'm trying to do is make sure we go into halftime down 14-6. Say I call a timeout there, they rule it a catch, now the Patriots have more time to put a play together. ... You know, whatever you are going to write, you are going to write. But that’s not my job to do that."
FOUR UP
(Adam Richins for BSJ)TE Rob Gronkowski: You knew he'd be the focal point of the offense — and you knew the defense would try to stop him — and he still had seven catches (on eight targets) for 123 yards and the team's first touchdown of the game. He didn't have much action in the preseason after an eventful offseason. But there was no rust on the Big Fella. His MVP candidacy got off to a very strong start.
DEs Trey Flowers/Deatrich Wise: Both players combined for all three sacks and six total quarterback hits against Watson. Flowers was probably the more active of the two, as he factored into the run defense as well.
QB Tom Brady: He's certainly had better games, but considering this was the first game, his lack of experienced targets and the caliber of defense he went up again, this was a pretty good start when all was said and done.
P Ryan Allen: His pressure-packed punt to the 1-yard with 43 seconds remaining sealed the game. Huge play.
THREE DOWN
(Adam Richins for BSJ)WR Riley McCarron: His muffed punt with 4:32 to play in the game had shades of Chris Harper in Denver written all over it when he suddenly gave the Texans life when they were down 14 points. Riley, it was nice knowing you.
WR Chris Hogan: It's never good when you have five targets and only one catch for 11 yards. The Patriots need him to help pick up the slack for Edelman.
LB Nicholas Grigsby: Got a chance to Watson's spy and take him down on third-and-long scramble and couldn't make the play. Wasn't seen much after that.
INJURIES
Jeremy Hill, RB (knee): Sustained a serious right knee injury when Develin's helmet went right into his knee in the aftermath of Gronkowski's fumble. Looks like it could be a season-ender, and puts even more of an emphasis of Sony Michel getting back and contributing.
Marcus Cannon, RT (left calf): Wasn't a new injury, but it's worth mentioning Cannon was in a rotation with La'Adrian Waddle as Cannon returns from an injury that kept him out the entire preseason.
TOP PLAYS
TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
Don't go overboard on the defense's performance: The Patriots' defense, for the most part, played very well in this game, and there were a lot of good things to take out of it. But I wouldn't take this as a statement for how the rest of the season is going to go, or whether any things have changed. The Texans' offensive line is awful (and they inserted a rookie at left tackle) and DeShaun Watson didn't look like a player who was ready to play. Good start from the defense — certainly better than a year ago — but that's about all you should take from it.
Nate who?: Many Patriots fans were hyperventilating when left tackle Nate Solder was allowed to leave via free agency. The Patriots settled on Trent Brown as their backup plan and the early returns were very good. Not only did Brown play the entire game (even Dante Scarnecchia admitted conditioning could be an issue), but he was hardly noticed during the game because of the good work he quietly did.