| receivers to throw to in the New England Patriots' opener.The reigning NFL MVP completed passes to eight players in a 27-20 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday Womens Julien Davenport Jersey , connecting with Rob Gronkowski and Phillip Dorsett for seven receptions and a touchdown apiece."We try to spread it around quite a bit," said Brady, who was 26 of 39 for 277 yards and three scores. "If you're out there, I trust you, the coaches trust you, the team trusts you. That's why we're putting you out there."After losing Danny Amendola to free agency and Julian Edelman to a four-game suspension, the Patriots were expected to be hobbled by a lack of targets for the three-time NFL MVP. This year's corps was being compared to the one in 2006, when Reche Caldwell led the team with 63 receptions (and caught only 15 more the rest of his career).Brady hit Gronkowski for 123 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown three plays after Deshaun Watson fumbled a handoff at the Texans 19 on Houston's first offensive play . They also connected on a 28-yard pass during a 2-minute drill that left the Patriots with a 21-6 halftime lead."It's very important that they came out and played the way they did. They're our leaders," said Dorsett, who had 66 receiving yards, including a 4-yard score. "When they play well, they give an adrenaline boost to the rest of the team."It was Gronkowski's 31st career regular-season or playoff game of 100 yards or more http://www.houstontexansteamonline.com/bruce-ellington-jersey , tying Tony Gonzalez's NFL record."We've been playing together for a long time," Brady said. "I know his body language. I know his ability to run and what routes. He can do it. He can do really all the routes. It's just a matter of giving him a chance, and it came with a big touchdown today."The 41-year-old quarterback also found James White for a touchdown; he also had an interception on a pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who missed the final nine games last season with a torn right ACL, completed 17 of 35 passes for 176 yards, one score and one interception.Watson struggled to move the team in the first 40 minutes, managing just a pair of field-goal drives before Alfred Blue ran it in from 1 yard to make it 24-13 in the last two minutes of the third period. Lamar Miller ran 20 times for 98 yards for Houston.A muffed punt by New England's Riley McCarron with under five minutes left set up Watson's 5-yard TD pass to Bruce Ellington and cut the deficit to 27-20. But after getting the ball back at their 1 with 43 seconds left, the Texans failed to reach midfield.BACK FROM INJURIESWatson, defensive lineman J.J. Watt and linebacker Whitney Mercilus returned after finishing 2017 on injured reserve. Watt had two quarterback hurries, but D.J. Reader had the only two sacks of Brady, both late."It's good to play a full game to know it lasts, to know it holds up," said Watt http://www.houstontexansteamonline.com/tyrann-mathieu-jersey , a three-time defensive player of the year. "I didn't think about it once. So, that's all you can ask for."UNDER PRESSUREWatson, who threw for 301 yards in a 36-33 loss to New England last year in his second NFL start, botched a handoff with Miller in the first quarter, setting up the Patriots for their first touchdown. In the second quarter, Watson inexplicably chucked the ball into the end zone for a double-covered Vyncint Smith on a second-and-3 from the New England 42.Stephon Gilmore brought it down for the interception."I think it was terrible, on my part," Watson said. "I just feel like you can put the 'L' on me."INJURIESTexans: DE Christian Covington injured his thigh in the first quarter. T Seantrel Henderson left after getting his left ankle rolled a few plays later. Kevin Johnson left with what the team said was a concussion and did not return.Patriots: RB Jeremy Hill left with a right knee injury on the Gronkowski fumble in the third quarter.LATE SERIESAfter the Texans forced New England to punt in the final minute, Ryan Allen landed the ball inside the 5-yard line and Jonathan Jones downed it at the 1. Houston advanced to the 16 on a penalty for leading with the helmet and Watson found DeAndre Hopkins for 14 yards before scrambling for 13 more.From his 43 with 5 seconds left, Watson chucked the ball as far as the 10, but it was knocked away. After throwing just one pass in his return to game action last week, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was determined to stay on the field a little longer on Saturday night.Watson used his one series to march the Texans down the field, going 5 of 8 for 73 yards Womens Kevin Johnson Jersey , capped by a 1-yard touchdown pass to Bruce Ellington in Houston's 16-13 exhibition victory over the San Francisco 49ers,"I guess he was 5 for 8, but I think he had three drops on the drive," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "I thought he did some nice things. We were able to play at a pretty good tempo and get in the end zone so that was good."It was a much lengthier outing than the preseason opener in Kansas City, when Watson attempted just one pass in his return to game action after missing the second half of his rookie season with a torn ACL."I felt good just to be in a game," Watson said. "Try to get my feet wet. It was a good drive for us."Watson's efficiency matched a nice opening drive from San Francisco's Jimmy Garoppolo, who threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Trent Taylor.Garoppolo's night ended after his second drive when a deep pass to Dante Pettis bounced off Pettis' hands and was intercepted by Johnson Bademosi. Garoppolo was 10 of 12 for 136 yards and said there were plenty of "simple mistakes" that the team can work on correcting before the regular season begins.49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said he was tempted to send his first-string offense out for a third series."I wanted them to get going more," Shanahan said. "I didn't think our execution was great in the first game. I didn't think it was great in this game either, but I just wanted to give them more time to play."Backup quarterbacks Brandon Weeden for Houston and C.J. Beathard for San Francisco struggled to move the ball and the game was tied at 7 at halftime.Weeden completed 7 of 15 passes for 50 yards, while Beathard was 10 of 17 for 82 yards.With Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn nursing an undisclosed injury, recent acquisition Nick Rose made a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter to put Houston up 10-7. Robbie Gould tied the game at 10 later in the third with a 39-yarder.After Gould made a 41-yard field goal with 1:41 remaining, Houston third-string quarterback Joe Webb led the Texans down the field and found Vyncint Smith for a 41-yard touchdown with 27 seconds remaining.With San Francisco down two running backs, including starter Jerick McKinnon (calf) and Matt Breida (shoulder) Womens Deshaun Watson Jersey , Jeremy McNichols got the start for the 49ers, rushing for 28 yards on 10 carries. Most offensive starters played the first two series.Defensively, starting cornerbacks Richard Sherman and K'Waun Williams did not play.Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, safety Tyrann Mathieu, cornerback Johnathan Joseph and several other Texans defensive starters didn't play. Offensively, starting wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller did not play.NATIONAL ANTHEMNo players from the 49ers or the Texans kneeled during the national anthem, although 49ers receiver Marquise Goodwin did raise his right fist for the duration. Linebacker Eli Harold kneeled during the anthem the past two years, but stood on Saturday night.INJURIES49ers: Backup OL Erik Magnuson suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter and limped to the locker room. DEs Solomon Thomas (concussion) and Arik Armstead (hamstring), TE George Kittle (shoulder), Breida (shoulder), LB Malcolm Smith (hamstring) and McKinnon (calf) were inactive.Texans: Starting CB Kevin Johnson suffered a concussion after defending a pass from Garoppolo on the first drive. Johnson landed awkwardly on his shoulder and was treated on the field by the team's medical staff for nearly five minutes before being escorted to the locker room. O'Brien said after the game he was taken to the hospital and that he was doing OK. ... Texans WR Sammie Coates Jr. also suffered a concussion.LOWERING THE HEADSan Francisco was twice flagged for the league's new penalties for lowering the head to initiate contact, both in the second quarter. The first came on a punt return and was charged to Raheem Mostert and the second came against Jeremiah Attaochu while rushing the passer.PENALTIES GALORE"Extremely disappointing. There were way too many penalties. We'll look at each one. Some you can control and some you can't www.houstontexansteamonline.com , but they really hurt us. They were unacceptable." — Shanahan on San Francisco's 15 penalties for 140 yardsHE SAID IT"I feel more comfortable just being out there with the guys longer. Last season, I came off the streets. This year, we have time to work on plays, work on being better." —Texans WR Bruce EllingtonNEXT UPThe 49ers (1-1) return to action on Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Colts.The Texans (2-0) visit the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, Aug. 25. |
