Well, you couldn’t call that a boring game. The New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans with the final score of 36-33.
The Patriots held a 21-20 lead over the Texans and got the ball after the half. The Patriots are 95-2 at Gillette Stadium when they have a lead after the half, with losses in the 2012 AFC Championship Game and the 2017 season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. This was almost a third.
New England even extended their lead to 28-20 after the opening drive thanks to a huge 42-yard score by Brandin Cooks. But the Texans responded with a 10-play, 70 yard touchdown drive, followed by a 12-play, 67 yard drive that ended in a field goal to take a 30-28 lead. Houston tacked on another field goal to take a 33-28 lead before the final two-minute warning.
Meanwhile, the Patriots offense failed to do much of anything. After a 9-play, 37 yard drive that resulted in a punt, the Patriots went three-and-out on back-to-back drives with failed third-and-one attempts on both.
Tom Brady and the New England managed to lead one final drive to close out the game and reached Texans territory. Brady found Danny Amendola on a huge 3rd and 18 to move the chains, setting up a new set of downs from the Texans 25-yard line with 29 seconds left in the game.
Brady found Brandin Cooks in the front corner of the end zone for an incredible score. Brady found Cooks again for a two-point conversion and a 36-33 lead.
Duron Harmon intercepted Texans rookie QB Deshaun Watson to ice the game.
The New England defense struggled at times against Watson, allowing the mobile young quarterback to escape from pressure and apparent sacks to convert big plays down the field. Hopefully the defense can find its footing in the coming weeks.
Touchdown Tom Brady finished the game 25/35 for 378 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Brandin Cooks had 5 catches for 131 yards and two scores. Rob Gronkowski made 8 catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. Chris Hogan collected 4 catches for 68 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Patriots are now 2-1, tied with the Buffalo Bills for first place in the AFC East. They face the Carolina Panthers next week.