Welcome to Week One of the 2018 NFL season! Everyone is filled with anxious excitement as we are less than two hours away from the start of the Patriots mission to win another Super Bowl. It has been an interesting offseason with a lot of personnel changes, but the team that will take the field today is more athletic and deep than the one that lost the Super Bowl in February.
Today’s opponent, the Houston Texans, will be filled with confidence due the the return of their young dynamic quarterback, Deshaun Watson. The Patriots will have their hands full, and this game could turn into a shootout. We will post the Patriots and Texans inactives in about an hour, so be sure to check back in around noon to see who is in and who is out for the Pats and Texans.
PATRIOTS INACTIVES
TE Jacob Hollister
OL Brian Schwenke
WR Chad Hansen
DE Derek Rivers
CB Keion Crossen
RB Sony Michel
CB JC Jackson
TEXANS INACTIVES
WR Will Fuller
WR Keke Coutee
CB Kayvon Webster
OLB Duke Ejiofor
T Kendall Lam
DE Carlos Atkins
DE Joel Heath
We are five minutes away from kickoff, and you can feel the excitement in the air. This is a great test to start the season; let’s see if the Patriots are up to it. Enjoy the game, and feel free to comment below.
FIRST QUARTER
15:00- The Patriots offense will take the field first. Here we go.
14:54- Burkhead runs for six, 2nd & 4…
14:2 White runs for a gain of one, Patriots set to face their 1st 3rd down of the year…
13:45- Run by White for one, and the Patriots come up empty on their first series of 2018. Running against Houston is a good idea, but it may be better to do it out of tighter formations and not from gun.
13:04- FUMBLE!! The Patriots recover, and the 2018 season starts just like the 2017 season. The offense will try to capitalize.
12:54- Brady missed a wide-open Burkhead, 2nd & 10…
12:46- Patterson took the end-around for a gain of three. That looked like it should have gone for more yards. 3rd & 7…
11:50- TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS!! Rob Growkowski with the back-shoulder catch, and although he was doubled, the defenders had no chance to make the play. He’s a force, and that was a great throw. Patriots 7, Texans 0
11:44- Miller gains one yard; stout defense on that play. 2nd & 9…
10:58- Gain of three by Aikens, 3rd & 7…
10:28- Watson overthrows Griffin, and the Patriots defense comes up with the three-and-out. The punt went out of bounds at the Patriots 35. Brady and the offense will look to make this a two-score game. Patriots 7, Texans 0
10:15- Develin gains five on the catch…
9:35- Patterson picks up seven on the quick throw and run; 1st & 10…
9:00- Burkhead with a gain of two on the run, 2nd & 8…
7:58- Brady with a bad throw on 3rd & 3, a throw that was intended for James White. That is a series that the entire offense would like back. The Texans takes over at their own 10.
7:44- Watson smartly gets it away on what looked like a sure sack; 2nd & 10…
7:35- Miller runs 31 yards for a huge 1st down. That should have been a safety, now the Texans are moving. Watson ran for 13 on 1st down.
6:30- Pressure from Hightower forces a long throw to Hopkins that is incomplete. 2nd & 10…
6:24- Miller gains four on the run, 3rd & 6…
5:45- Incomplete pass to Ellington, and the Patriots force another punt. The offense will take over at their own five.
4:35- Brady has his pass tipped, and the Honey Badger picks it off. The Texans offense will have the ball in the Patriots red zone. Turnovers are the story of this game so far. Patriots 7, Texans 0
4:02- Lawrence Guy blows up the run on 2nd & 10, and the Texans offense will face 3rd & 10…
3:17- SACK! Trey Flowers makes the play, and after a loss of seven, the Texans will have a 42 yard field goal attempt.
2:33- The field goal is good, but the defense should be happy with that stop. Now the offense needs to wake up and put together a scoring drive. Patriots 7, Texans 3
2:30- Dorsett makes the catch on the slant, 1st & 10…
1:47- Hill with the catch and run for six, 2nd & 4…
1:14- DPI called on the Texans, which is odd to see called in Gronk’s favor; 1st & 10…
1:09- Hogan picks up 11 on the pass, 1st & 10 from the Texans 34…
:29- Clowney forces Brady to throw it into White’s feet; 2nd & 10…
:23- “Gold Gary” goes for six (Burkhead run, that is an audible call). The Patriots will be facing a 2nd & 4 to start the 2nd quarter. Patriots 7, Texans 3
SECOND QUARTER
15:00- Burkhead gains 5.5 of the needed six, so the Patriots have a decision to make..4th & two inches…
14:33- Brady sneaks for the 1st; he got hammered on that play. 1st & 10…
13:51- Burkhead gains one, 2nd & 9…
13:15- Patterson gains 12 on the jet sweep; 1st & 10…
12:38- TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS!! James White makes the catch at the ten, and he does the rest to pick up six. Gostkowski drills the extra point to give the Patriots an 11-point lead. Patriots 14, Texans 3
12:32- Terrible kick coverage, Texans offense takes over at their own 38…
11:53- Thomas picks up 27 on the play; weak coverage by Chung.
11:25- Hopkins looked like he had the catch, but Gilmore knocked it out at the last second. 2nd & 10…
11:14- Quick pass to Hopkins for nine, 3rd & 1….
10:41- Blue runs six yards to give the Texans a much-needed 1st down.
10:14- Guy makes a great play getting down the line to tackle Miller, 2nd & 10…
9:44- SACK! Wise gets home to make the play, 3rd & 13…
9:04- Incomplete pass, and good pressure again on the play. The Patriots have been getting pressure all game; 36-yard field goal by Fairbairn cuts the Patriots lead to eight. Patriots 14, Texans 6
8:56- McCarron was the intended receiver, but the pass was off target; 2nd & 10…
8:45- White makes the quick catch and gains five, 3rd & 5…
8:02- Gronk makes the catch-and-run for seven, giving the Patriots another 1st down.
7:23- Two incomplete passes (Hogan, White) has New England facing 3rd & 10…
7:18- Brady throws into double coverage to Hogan, but he can’t make the catch. Irvin returned the punt to the Texans 34.
6:32- Hopkins gains eight on 2nd & 3, and the Texans are figuring out this Patriots defense…
5:44- INTERCEPTION, PATRIOTS! Gilmore comes across the field to help Rowe and make the big pick. The Pats offense takes over at their own 20.\
5:10- Gronk gains four on 2nd & 8, Pats facing 3rd & 4…
4:34- Reid breaks up the pass to Gronk, and the Patriots are forced to punt again. The Texans take over at their own 36.
4:15- Run for six by Miller, 2nd & 4…
3:49- Miller gains nothing on the run, 3rd & 4…
3:03- Watson barely gains enough on the run for the 1st down; 1st & 10…
2:27- Bentley makes another tackle; he is all over the place. 2nd & 8…
2:00- False start by the Texans, make it 2nd & 13…
1:52- It appeared that Hopkins had a gain of five, but there was a block in the back on the play, so it will now be 2nd & 23…
1:47- Miller runs for five, and the Patriots call timeout. Texans facing 3rd & 18, and if they don’t get it, Brady and the Patriots offense will get a chance to run their two-minute drill.
1:38- Gain of 11, and the Pats call another timeout. Brady will have a chance to lead a drive from their own 22.
1:29- Hill with a good run for eight, 2nd & 2…
1:05- Hill runs for 10 more and gets out of bounds; 1st & 10…
:58- Gronk makes an amazing catch, and the Patriots are now at the Texans 30.
:32- Fumble on the play by Burkhead is recovered by the Patriots
:27- Dorsett makes the catch to pick up the 1st down; 1st & 10 from the Texans 18…
:23- Pass to White is incomplete, 2nd & 10…
:19- Dorsett makes the big catch for 12, and the Patriots are now sitting pretty at the Texans four; 1st & Goal…
:14- TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS!! Dorsett is wide open after Gronk sucks the safety out to help. Great read by brady, and what a drive by the offense. The Patriots up their lead to 15. Patriots 21, Texans 6
:00- The Texans take a knee, and we will head to halftime. The Patriots looked very good on both sides of the ball in the first half, which is a great sign considering the amount of changes. The Texans had opportunities, but so far they haven’t been able to take advantage of them.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 21, HOUSTON TEXANS 6
HALFTIME
15:00- The Texans offense will begin the 2nd half with ball, and they need to make something happen ASAP.
14:50- End-around by Hopkins is read and the Texans lose seven on 1st down. 2nd & 17…
13:42- On 3rd & 12, the Texans pick up 11, forcing them to punt. They need their defense to step up or they could be in deep trouble.
12:54- Hill gains four on the run; 2nd & 6…
12:09- Gronk fumbles, and Hill gets injured on the play. Not good, not good at all.
11:29- The Patriots went from what looked like a huge play and great field position to trying to stop the Texans from scoring quickly after a turnover. Gronk doesn’t fumble often, and that one not only led to a loss of possession, Jeremy Hill also took friendly fire to his knee, which looked real bad, so now he is done for the day too (most likely.) Hold onto the ball, Gronk!
10:45- Watson gets rushed into a short throw that can’t be held onto; 2nd & 10…
10:34- Lamar Miller runs for five, 3rd & 5…
9:56- Incomplete pass on 3rd down, and now the Texans are faced with a decision, which is to go for it.
9:52- Incomplete pass, and the Patriots offense will take over after the terrible throw by Watson. 1st & 10, Patriots…
9:47- Burkhead runs for two, 2nd & 8…
9:03- Burkhead runs for five, 3rd & 3…
8:32- Gronk with a big catch on 3rd down, setting the Patriots offense up at the Texans 45. 1st & 10…
7:45- Two quick plays and it’s 3rd & 5 very quickly…
7:16- Kevin Johnson got away with DPI at the goal line, but he WAS called for the hold at the LOS; 1st & 10, Patriots….
7:07- Dorsett makes another catch at the Texans 26, 1st & 10…
6:38- Burkhead runs for a gain of three, 2nd & 7…
6:08- Incomplete pass to Burkhead makes it 3rd & 7…
6:05- After Watt blew up the 3rd down play, Gostkowski comes in and drills the field goal to make it a three-score game. Patriots 24, Texans 6
5:57- Blue loses two on the run, 2nd & 12…
4:50- Blue gains 18 on the run to gain a 1st down, then ran it again for 11 more; 1st & 10…
4:02- Miller runs for five; 2nd & 5…
3:27- Miller runs for eight more as the Texans GASH the Patriots defense. 1st & 10, Texans…
2:56- Finally, a stop by the dline; 2nd & 9…
2:34- Texans pick up 13, and now they are setup at the Patriots three. Unfortunately, they were called for a false start, so it will now be 1st & Goal from the eight, not the three.
2:06- Hopkins picks up eight, but he did not score. 2nd & Goal…
1:52- Touchdown, Texans. Alfred Blue takes it in easily from one-yard out, and the Texans cut the lead to 11. Patriots 24, Texans 13
1:42- Burkhead runs for 14, 1st & 10….
:53- Develin picks up three through the air, 2nd & 7…
:10- White picks up 10 on the play, and that will end the 3rd quarter. Brady had Texans’ rushers at his legs, a scary thought. After three, New England has an 11-point advantage. Patriots 24, Texans 13
FOURTH QUARTER
15:00- Incomplete pass on the play action attempt; Brady hit by Watt again. 2nd & 10…
14:50- White picks up 9; 3rd & 1…
14:10- Burkhead runs for four to pick up the much-needed first down. 1st & 10…
13:38- Burkhead runs for four more; 2nd & 6 from the Texans 31…
12:59- Gain of eight on the catch by Gronk, giving the Patriots another first down.
12:20- Dorsett makes the catch and scorches the defender to pick up an additional five yards. 1st & 10 from the Texans 12…
11:40- One -yard run by White; 2nd & 9…
11:04- Brady gets sacked back at the 17, and the Patriots are now facing 3rd & 14…timeout.
10:10- The end-around goes for just four yards; Kevin Johnson got hit hard on the play. Gostkowski came in and drilled the 35-yard field goal to extend the lead back to 14. The Texans gave up a score, but at least it wasn’t a touchdown. Patriots 27, Texans 13
9:42- The Patriots kickoff team has been awful today; the Texans will take over at their own 31…
9:37- Hopkins gains nine; 2nd & 1…
9:17- Miller runs for 10, 1st & 10…
8:43- SACK!! Flowers makes the sack while being held; 2nd & 17…
8:19- Gain of nine by Aikens, 3rd & 9…huge play…
7:45- End-around? Weird call, and the Texans lose four on the run. Houston is forced to punt, which is fair caught by McCarron at the Patriots 12.
7:30- Burkhead runs for one; 2nd & 9…
6:33- Brady is sacked on the play by Watt; 3rd & 13…
5:51- White picks up 10, but they needed 13, so they’ll be forced to punt. Allen booms one to the Texans 25, and Ebner makes the tackle at the 31. Good punt and coverage on that play, which they badly needed. The Texans have just over five minutes to score two touchdowns, which is not a stretch. This IS still a game; it’s not over yet.
5:07- Miller runs for two on 2nd down; 3rd & 8…
4:41- Jones knocks the pass away, and the Texans look like they will punt. It makes sense with their stout defense, but time is short. McCarron fumbled on the play, and the Texans recover. HUGE mistake.
3:50- Holding on the Patriots leads to an automatic 1st down. I’m trying to calm down after the turnover, and now the refs just made up a rule. Watson runs, and they call a hold on Gilmore. it is either a five-yard penalty & a 1st down, or they take the yardage. THEY ADDED THE FIVE YARDS!! Belichick is losing it, lol.
3:02- Incomplete pass on 2nd & Goal; 3rd & Goal…I still can’t believe they made that mistake.
2:55- Garbage holding call on Gilmore, again. The refs might as well spot the ball in the damn end zone. 1st & Goal…
2:32- Draw goes for a loss of four, 2nd & Goal…
2:08- Touchdown, Texans. Riley McCarron- this is your fault. Why even field that punt? Seriously, just let it go and take the ball from where it lands. Now we have a one-score game. Ridiculous; special teams has been a bad area for the Patriots today, and now it may cost them the game. Patriots 27, Texans 20
2:00- Burkhead gains two on 1st down, and the Patriots will face a 2nd & 8 after the two-minute warning. The Texans have three timeouts remaining, but they need to stop the Patriots from picking up a 1st down. This is the game right here.
1:48- Brady completes the pass to Develin for nine; 1st & 10, Patriots, and the Texans call a timeout. One more first down and this game is over.
1:44- Gain of one by Burkhead, and the Texans use their second timeout. 2nd & 9, Patriots, from their own 39.
1:39- Burkhead runs for seven, and now we have 3rd & 2; huge play…
1:30- Develin trips Burkhead on what looked like a 1st down, and the Patriots are forced to punt. All of this due to a fumble on a punt return. 4th & 1…
:51- Allen punts it to the Texans ONE YARD LINE! What. A. Punt. Good coverage on the play by Jonathan Jones; 1st & 10, Texans…
:38- Rowe breaks it up, 2nd & 10…
:29- Patriots are going to be called for the hit to the head, but the ball wasn’t caught. 15-yard penalty, and the Texans will have the ball at the 16. Tough to get on Harmon, he is just trying to break up a pass.
:21- Incomplete pass, 2nd & 10…
:14- Hopkins gets it out to 30 with the catch, 1st & 10…
:05- Hopkins picks up nine, and the Texans will have a Hail-Mary attempt. Here we go!
:00- INCOMPLETE!! PATRIOTS WIN! New England holds on in a game they basically dominated. Tom Brady looked like he has for the last 18 years, and the train just keeps on rolling. EVERYONE picked the Texans to win today; some experts they are.
Thank you for joining us today, and be sure to join us again next week when the Patriots take on the Jaguars in Jacksonville, a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship. Have a great week!
FINAL SCORE- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 27, HOUSTON TEXANS 20
