Tom Brady can still sling it. The 40-year-old signal caller threw for 378 yards and five touchdowns to lead the New England Patriots past the Houston Texans 36-33.
Father of time yields for Brady himself, Tom managed another game-winning drive which featured a few scares.
It started with a bomb down the left sideline to speedy wideout Brandin Cooks, whom was on fire the entire game. Immediately following, Brady hit Rob Gronkowski on a 7-yard fade in which the corner stood no chance.
Tha Patriots jumped to a quick 7-0 lead but the Texans, young and stout, were quick to respond. A quick field goal (7-3) and then a forced punt gave the Texans and Deshaun Watson good field position. Watson went to work and threw a dime to receiver Bruce Ellington in double coverage.
Watson a few drives later got caught trying to do too much which resulted in a Stephon Gilmore interception. Which was immediately followed by a Brady to Chris Hogan TD.
The Texans proceeded to hit hard and often trading leads with the defending champs throughout the first half, but it was New England that went into the break with a 21-20 advantage.
Coming out of the half the Patriots proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot with penalties and porous coverage. With Dont’a Hightower missing for the second week straight the outside edge was exposed.
Jadeveon Clowney was to blame for some of the Patriots woes as well, as he had a heck of a day. Bolstering two sacks and fumble return for a TD becoming only the third player in Texans history to do so joining Mario Williams and J.J. Watt.
The Patriots trailed 33-28 with two minutes left to go in the final moments.
Brady had the ball.
And he went to work.
After a holding penalty which pushed them back to their own fifteen, Brady used a 15 yard pass to Gronkowski and 27-yard pass to Danny Amendola to bring them to Houston’s 25 yard line. Cooks then got open for a beautiful toe tap game-winner and followed with a 2-pointer immediately after.
New England hosts the Carolina Panthers next week at 1 p.m.
