Best Of Social Media: Week 1 Texans vs Patriots
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New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
At long last the New England Patriots season opener arrived on Sunday against the upstart Houston Texans and young quarterback Deshaun Watson, who just a year earlier, gave the Pats a thriller at Gillette Stadium.
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Creative signage in the end zone for today’s season-opener, as well as a tribute to Julian Edelman. Hey wait, is that me in overalls in that first sign? pic.twitter.com/BdhVxkxrTE
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 9, 2018
Texans DE JJ Watt having a pregame catch with #Patriots and Texans fans alike. #classact pic.twitter.com/7ALMD7erhE
— The Camera Guys (@NBCSCameraGuys) September 9, 2018
#PatsNation @MeekMill @Patriots pic.twitter.com/o5dSnUL2IS
— Deion Branch #83 #84 (@deionbranch84) September 10, 2018
Wyc Grousbeck, Terry Rozier and Daniel Theis in a #Celtics welcoming party of #Patriots owner Robert Kraft on the sideline.
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) September 9, 2018
Foxboro flyovers. ✈️✈️#HOUvsNE | #PatriotsNation | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/w47zaxfXIq
— Gillette Stadium (@GilletteStadium) September 9, 2018
It’s time. #GoPats | #HOUvsNE pic.twitter.com/csASdhiVOH
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 9, 2018
In the first quarter, the new look Patriots defense made an immediate impact, with the help of a healthy Dont’a Hightower.
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The Patriots scored first, as tight end Rob Gronkowski logged his first Gronk spike of 2018.
7-0 Patriots.
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The Brady-@RobGronkowski TD from the QB's POV.#HOUvsNE pic.twitter.com/uIRwFTsdn2
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 10, 2018
Field side view of the first Gronk spike @RobGronkowski https://t.co/6xMagg0Am5
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 9, 2018
wiggle wiggle baby @RobGronkowski @Patriots #NEvsHOU pic.twitter.com/dlS8BUxEQB
— Camille Kostek (@camillekostek) September 9, 2018
Before the end of the quarter, the Texans scored a Ka’imi Fairbairn 42 yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3.
To open the second, the Patriots offense continued to look crisp, as quarterback Tom Brady found James White for a 12 yard touchdown and a 14-3 lead.
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The connection with James White is Tom Brady's 490th career TD pass. Brady continues his race with Drew Brees to become the 3rd QB all time to reach 500. #Patriots #NFL
— Sean Glennon (@SeanGlennon) September 9, 2018
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Deatrich Wise and the Patriots defense continued to step up, bowling strikes along the way after sacks.
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Stephon Gillmore continued to keep Watson out of the end zone.
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Just before the half, Gronk caught one of the more bizarre balls you’ll ever see.
How in the world did Gronk haul this in? #HOUvsNE #Patriots 🐐 pic.twitter.com/1Cnib8zaKQ
— Will D. (@WAD1980) September 9, 2018
Just your normal pass reception. pic.twitter.com/aoDWT0h9Db
— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) September 9, 2018
The catch setup Phillip Dorsett’s first touchdown of the year and a 21-6 halftime lead.
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Phillip Dorsett catches his first career TD pass from Tom Brady, becoming the 69th different player to catch at least 1 TD from Brady. Brady one shy of Vinny Testaverde's NFL record (70).
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 9, 2018
In the third quarter, Brady and Gronk continued to connect deep. With this reception leading to another Gostkowski field goal and a 24-6 lead.
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With under two to play in the third, the Texans finally found the end zone when Alfred Blue ran it in from the one on Watson’s first successful drive of the afternoon. 24-13 Patriots after three.
In the fourth quarter, Doresett continued to impress, setting up another Gostkowski field goal to extend the lead to 27-13.
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Nursing a two touchdown lead, return man Riley McCarron made things interesting following a muffed punt that lead to a Bruce Ellington five yard touchdown reception from Deshaun Watson. 27-20 Patriots.
So with the Texans down just seven, Ryan Allen and the special teams unit delivered as Houston was unable to tie the game and the Patriots would go on to win week 1 27-20.
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Rob Gronkowski's 123 receiving yards against the Texans were the most by a Patriots player in a season opener since 2011, when Wes Welker went for 160 against Miami.
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) September 10, 2018
Bill Belichick won his 251st regular season game as a head coach to move past Tom Landry into third on the all-time regular season wins list. He was already third overall counting the postseason (Shula, Halas).
— The Hall presented by RTX (@TheHall) September 9, 2018
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https://twitter.com/OnlyInBOS/status/1038883594415079426
FINAL Tom Brady Stats:
Total: 26/39 (67%) 277yds 3TDs 1INTRed Zone: 3/5 (60%) 30yds 2TDs
By Down:
1st: 11/17 (65%) 105yds 2TDs
2nd: 11/13 (85%) 109yds
3rd: 4/9 (44%) 63yds 1TD 1INT— PatsFans.com (@PatsFans) September 9, 2018
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