Brissett gave the Patriots a running element that Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo don’t, and in the first quarter he ran for a 27-yard touchdown – a longer run than Brady has ever had in his entire National Football League career. “He’s done nothing but come in here and work has hard as he possibly can”.
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It is still unclear whether Brissett or Garoppolo will start at quarterback in the last Brady-less game, but with a 3-1 start to the season being the worst-case scenario in Brady’s absence, most of the pressure is off and the suspension of the team’s star, which once seemed so crippling to New England, will begin to fade into a footnote. “It went just how we planned it was going to work out”. They fair-caught everything. I can’t say enough good things about what (Allen) did (Thursday night). He’s just a hard working kid that is really dedicated to doing what’s right for the team and trying to improve on anything that you tell him.
“This whole week our coaching staff did a tremendous job”, Belichick said.
Brissett may keep the starting quarterback position next week for the Patriots’ home game against Buffalo next weekend. The Patriots are 30-0 over the past 10 seasons when their dropback percentage is 50 percent or lower. New England forced and recovered two fumbles on Texans’ kickoffs that led to 14 points.
Brissett went on to complete 11 of 19 passes for 103 yards, and ran for 48 yards on eight carries as the Patriots took advantage of three Houston turnovers.
Osweiler was 24-of-41 for 196 yards.
“We’re part of a great organization, great team”, Brissett said after the game at his locker.
Brissett, who came on in relief of Garoppolo against Miami four days ago, became the first rookie quarterback to start for the Patriots since Drew Bledsoe in 1993 – and the first black player to start at QB in franchise history. “They did a great job at the run game, and did a great job all around and he played well being in a tough situation”.
NOTES: New England P Ryan Allen boomed seven punts for a 47.6-yard average, six landing inside the 20, and the Texans had 0 return yards on them. Watt assisted on just two tackles in the game, and the Texans were only able to sack Brissett once in the game, for a loss of 6 yards. It’s the third time in his career he has had back-to-back 100-yard games, and the first time since 2011.
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INJURIES: Houston tight end Stephen Anderson left the game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return.
