The New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 27-20 to start the 2018 regular season 1-0. The game wasn’t pretty and there’s a lot for Bill Belichick to evaluate and criticize [url=http://www.patriotscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-hats]New England Patriots Hats[/url] , but the outcome is in the books.Here’s what we learned.Tom Brady still looks greatThe reigning MVP might be 41 years old, but he easily outplayed the 22-year-old on the other sideline. Brady finished the day 26 of 39 (66.7%) for 277 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception for a passer rating of 102.2. That interception was the result of a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage, too, so it wasn’t directly his fault.Brady was efficient and he moved well in the pocket. He spread the ball around with nine players seeing targets and four recorded four or more receptions. There is a glaring concern about the lack of connection between Brady and Chris Hogan (1 catch for 11 yards on 5 targets), but Brady proved that Father Time is going to have to wait a little bit longer.Rob Gronkowski is a beastGronkowski was a huge receiving threat up the seam and picked up 123 yards and a touchdown on 7 receptions. Sure, he fumbled one of his receptions, but not all fumbles are the same and Bill Belichick tends to cut a player some slack if the fumble is the result of a player in transition (like Gronkowski) or where the defender is unseen (like Gronkowski). With Edelman out and Hogan not producing, Gronkowski will need to replicate this production in each of the next three games if the Patriots are going to emerge from the first quarter of the season with a strong record.Phillip Dorsett is more than hypeDorsett was fantastic in his first real game in the spotlight for New England. He collected all 7 of his targets for 66 yards and a touchdown and he was running many of the same routes that Brandin Cooks ran in 2017. While Brady and Dorsett didn’t connect on a deep ball (Dorsett’s long was 14 yards), that can come later and the fact that Dorsett’s producing on short targets is probably a better indicator that the receiver will be a part of the Patriots game plan beyond Edelman’s suspension.I’m going to be the first on the hype train that expects a Dorsett extension by the end of the regular season. There’s no facts or rumors behind this, but it seems like a Patriots thing to do [url=http://www.patriotscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-hoodie]New England Patriots Hoodie[/url] , especially with the Patriots receiving corps lacking any continuity beyond this year.The Patriots pass rush looks fierceTrey Flowers and Deatrich Wise looked outstanding as they picked up 1.5 sacks and 3 quarterback hits, while Adrian Clayborn added 2 quarterback hits of his own. Keionta Davis, as the fourth man in the rotation, hit the quarterback, too. This quartet had an extremely promising first game, especially after how last year’s lack of a pass rush was crucial to the team’s defeat in the Super Bowl.We have to add Lawrence Guy into the mix, too, because he generated a fair amount of pressure up the middle, too. He was the best defensive tackle on the roster today because... The Patriots interior run defense is concerningMalcom Brown, Danny Shelton, and Adam Butler all had ugly missed tackles against the run on Sunday and the Texans gashed the run defense on a regular basis. This wasn’t an intentional decision to prevent Deshaun Watson from throwing the football, like the choice they’ve made against Peyton Manning in the past. The Texans just had an easy time running the ball up the middle. Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue combined for 124 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries [url=http://www.patriotscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-customized]Cheap Customized New England Patriots Jerseys[/url] , for nearly 5 yards per carry. Deshaun Watson added in 40 yards on 8 carries, too. The Patriots edge defenders did an okay job of stopping runs to the outside, but the consistency at which the Texans gained yards up the gut is concerning.The issue goes beyond the defensive tackles as Ja’Whaun Bentley, Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, and Elandon Roberts didn’t win the necessary battles to stop the rushing attack. The Patriots were really bad against the run in 2017 so any struggles this season should be flagged for concern. Tom Brady trudged off the field with his helmet in one hand, grass stains on his jersey and a look of frustration on his face.This was a different feeling for the New England Patriots quarterback — at least against Jacksonville.Brady lost for the first time in nine starts against the Jaguars, a 31-20 setback Sunday in which Blake Bortles outshined the three-time league MVP and five-time Super Bowl champion.Jacksonville had been the only remaining AFC team to never beat Brady. The Jags (2-0) finally got it done in a rematch of last season's AFC championship game.It shouldn't take long for Brady and the Patriots (1-1) to bounce back. They play winless Detroit next week."It's a long year," Brady said. "I think you have a bad day against a good team, it's a recipe for losing."Brady completed 24 of 35 passes for 234 yards, with two touchdowns and a turnover. He was sacked twice, including once by Dante Fowler in the fourth quarter that caused a fumble. He said New England's offensive execution has room for improvement."I don't think it's anywhere near where we're capable of or what we've done at different points through a season [url=http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com//trent-brown-jersey]Authentic Trent Brown Jersey[/url] ," Brady said. "We've got to make improvements, and I think September and October, that's what they're for. I think there's a lot of practices we need and a lot of time that we need to figure out what we do well and what we don't do so well. But you have to try to win in the meantime. And today obviously wasn't enough."The Jaguars, who can get to 3-0 for the first time since 2004 next week against Tennessee, did just about everything right.They held tight end Rob Gronkowski to two catches for 15 yards. They slowed New England's running game to 3.4 yards a carry. They allowed just two plays longer than 25 yards.And Bortles delivered the best game of his five-year career.Bortles threw for 377 yards and four touchdowns. He tossed perfect passes in the end zone to Donte Moncrief, Keelan Cole and Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the first half, and then connected with Dede Westbrook on a short crossing route in the fourth quarter that Westbrook turned into a 61-yard score ."We go against Blake in practice," Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell said. "He has some days where he is just lights out and gets us. If he can get us, he can get anybody because we feel pretty good about ourselves. I know what's going to happen. If he keeps getting opportunities, he's going to be a big-time player."I was just grabbing popcorn every time the ball was in Bortles' hands. I say, 'He's going to do something great', and then he's running and spinning and [url=http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com//ryan-allen-jersey]http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com/ryan-allen-jersey[/url] , man, it was impressive."Here are some other things we learned from the game:COLE STEPS UPCole had the key block on Westbrook's big play that sealed the victory and is proving to be the team's go-to receiver. He finished with seven catches for 116 yards and a score. He made a spectacular, one-handed catch on Jacksonville's second drive and beat Eric Rowe for a 24-yard touchdown three plays later that got Rowe benched."Keelan made an unbelievable play on the sideline," coach Doug Marrone said. "Everybody saw that. He's a guy that has been really steady for us, really worked his butt off. ... The first year is tough. You're trying to find your way. That second year you kind of get set in a way, and he's been good right from the beginning, very focused and has done a nice job for us."HOME STREAKINGThe Jaguars can set a franchise record next week by winning their eighth consecutive game at home. They host Tennessee next Sunday. Jacksonville hasn't lost at home since falling to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6 of last season.RECORD HEATThe teams played in the hottest game in Jaguars history. Temperature at kickoff was 97 degrees, with a heat index of 107 degrees. According to the NFL, it was the warmest game since Green Bay played at Arizona in 2003.KEY INJURIESThe Patriots lost two of their best defenders to concussions. Defensive end Trey Flowers left the game in the first quarter, and safety Patrick Chung was hurt injured in the second half. Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson injured his left knee in the first quarter and was helped off the field.UP NEXTThe Patriots play at Detroit, where former New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is now the head coach.The Jaguars host AFC South rival Tennessee in the second of three straight home games.
