Proof: Entering the game in the fifth series Thursday, Mitchell had four catches for 55 yards in only 15 snaps as he was developing a rapport with QB Jimmy Garoppolo. “It was a pretty good result”.
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Here’s some pre-season comparison, numbers we pointed out heading into Thursday’s game: In the first pre-season game against the Packers a year ago, Garoppolo hit on 20-of-30 passes for 159 yards, zero TDs and one interception.
Garoppolo set up the Patriots’ second TD by hooking up with White on a 56-yard pass to the New Orleans 1-yard line. He made the most of it, completing a 37-yard pass to Brandin Cooks on the first offensive play of the night.
Rookie receiver Malcolm Mitchell had a nice first half before leaving the game with an elbow injury after making a catch late in the second quarter.
ESPN analyst Rob Jaworski told ESPN.com, “I think when you look at the complete body of work of Garoppolo, he did some really good things”.
Perhaps most importantly, Garoppolo protected the ball. That’s just part of being a quarterback.
Garoppolo played the entire first half, knowing before the game that he’d be without Gronkowski, Edelman, and Amendola, all sitting out the first action of August. “I just try to get open for him”. Brady wasn’t even in the building Thursday night, excused by the team to handle a death in the family. Garoppolo didn’t take over the game, nor was he expected to.
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The Philadelphia Eagles came in #1 with former New Orleans Saints backup (and Drew Brees celebratory handshake partner) Chase Daniel and 2016 2nd overall pick Carson Wentz behind Sam Bradford. He helped drive the Patriots to a first-half lead over the Saints and their secondary defensive unit. “Start the game off right, ‘” Edebali said. “I think we reacted the right way”. It was a good experience tonight just being put in a hard situation and then just seeing how the guys responded, how everyone responded.
