INSTANT REPLAY: Patriots Hang On Against Texans

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Between Rob Gronkowski making plays in double coverage and the emergence of Philip Dorsett as a receiving threat, there was much for New England Patriots fans to cheer about Sunday afternoon.

Tom Brady threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns, while Gronkowski and Dorsett had 123 and 66 yards in the air as the Patriots hung on to beat the Houston 27-20 in the season opener at Gillette Stadium.

Despite a three and out on the opening drive, it only took the Texans one play and a botched hand off recovered by Dont'a Hightower to give the ball back to New England. Three plays later, Tom Brady found Gronkowski near the end zone. The tight end had two Houston defenders on him, but it didn't matter.

The pass was the 76th time Brady has thrown a touchdow to Gronkowski, which is the fifth most from a quarterback to the same player in NFL history and second among quarterback-tight end tangents.

For most of the game, Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was forced to scramble and flee from a Patriots defense that brought serious pressure to the backfield. Before their fourth quarter comeback, the Texans were only able to produce a field goal from their four trips to the red zone and an interception to Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

Touchdowns from running back James White and Dorsett in the second quarter gave New England a 21-6 lead into the break. The second half, however, saw the teams switch roles as the Patriots began settling for field goals and the Texans found ways into the end zone.

The Texans were able to cut the lead to seven with just over two minutes to play. While the Patriots were forced to punt, a ball downed at Houston's one-yard line with 43 seconds remaining meant there was too much field for a possible game-tying drive.

The Patriots are on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars next week.

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