The student out-coached the teacher as Bill O’Brien’s Houston Texans beat the New England Patriots 28-22.
Deshaun Watson and crew dismantled the league’s best defense and the Patriots offense remained abysmal up until the end.
Here are the winners and losers of Sunday Night Football.
Winner: James White
White had his longest run of his career at 32 yards to start out the second half and found himself rushing it more often than not.
With 84 percent of his snaps being pass plays his entire career, it was a departure from White’s comfort zone with the cold Sony Michel.
The Wisconsin alum scored the team’s first score late in the third quarter.
White was the recipient of Brady’s second touchdown but too much damage had already been done.
82 yards rushing, eight receptions and two scores, he was among the lone bright spots on the Patriots’ side.
Loser: Tom Brady
With the exception of two great third down conversion throws to Julian Edelman and three touchdown passes, the six-time Super Bowl champion looked lethargic and well… Like a 42-year-old football player.
There was no excuse today, he had all the weapons he needed to beat an mediocre Texans secondary, but could not get it done with overthrows and misreads.
He did not get his first touchdown pass until the end of the third quarter. But by then, it was too little, too late.
Brady almost had back to back games with an under 50 percent completion rate for the first time in his decorated career.
He needs help in the form of a target or his current receivers getting open quicker out of their routes. But as of now, his receivers have proven incapable of doing that.
Winner: Jakobi Meyers
Nobody was getting open it seemed other than Edelman and the rookie out of NC State. Meyers had some miscommunication with Brady but had two catches at the end of the first half.
He was quiet for the rest of the game, but an active first half was better than almost all of his teammates at receiver.
Loser: Patrick Chung
One of Bill Belichick’s favorites had one of his worst first halves in recent memory. The Oregon alum found himself out of assignment.
He also exhibited poor tackling. On a tight end screen, Chung went high on a tackle attempt causing him to be thrown to the ground coinciding with a first down catch and run.
This was a night to forget for Chung.
Loser: N’Keal Harry
No catches and no impact on the game. The first-round selection vanished after the first quarter.
A disappointing performance in prime time.
It is clear that Harry has not yet fully grasped the offense or has gained the trust of his quarterback. This could be a lost season for the Arizona State alum.
Loser: Jonathan Jones
Jones was picked on all night with Jason McCourty absent once again.
After dodging a bullet with Will Fuller V. dropping a touchdown pass, quarterback Deshaun Watson went right back at Jones this time with Kenny Stills making the grab.
In the fourth quarter, Jones was called for a holding penalty on a drive the Patriots needed to get the ball back.
Not his best game or the Patriots’ greatest for that matter.
Loser: Marcus Cannon
The former All-Pro continues his downward spiral towards mediocrity.
Pressure came from the right side constantly with the TCU alum being beaten on a play on a critical fourth quarter drive attempting to get back into the game.
Cannon is not an elite tackle anymore and this was further driven home tonight..
