Once again stellar quarterback Tom Brady was in charge of directing the comeback of the New England Patriots who won 36-33 to the Houston Texans in Match 3 of the National Football League (NFL) .
Brady found wide receiver Brandin Cooks for a 25-yard touchdown with 23 seconds to play, his fifth scorecard, and the win fell off the Patriots’ side (2-1).
The veteran quarterback ended the game with 25 completed passes in 35 attempts for 378 yards, did not make any interceptions, was knocked down five times and left the pass rate at 146.2.
While Cooks caught five passes for 131 yards and a pair of scores. It was the fifth game of multiple touchdowns and the eighth of 100 yards in his career.
However, the Patriots’ defense still lacks the potential that was expected and needed to face the Super Bowl title.
The Texans rookie quarterback, Deshaun Watson, looked solid in the second start of his career.
The Patriots had shallow depths on the shores without linebacker Dont’a Hightower for the second consecutive week, and Watson took advantage, completing 22 of 33 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns.
But he was intercepted by two passes, including one that prepared a touchdown of the Patriots in the first half.
The Patriots extended their lead to 28-20 in the third quarter before Houston scored a 12-yard touchdown on a Watson pass to tight end Ryan Griffin and a 31-yard field goal from kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn that allowed them get ahead on the scoreboard (28-30) at the start of the fourth period.
The Texans (1-2) forced the Patriots to clear with just over seven minutes to play, but had to settle for a 36-yard field goal with 2:24 left to play. Houston failed to convert to third and 1 in the 18-yard Patriots.
That left room for Brady, who after a punishment for holding the Patriots in his 15th yard, sent a 15-yard pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski and a 27-yard pass to catcher Danny Amendola to reach the 25 of Houston.
Cooks then escaped free for the lead score and also caught the pass in the 2-point conversion secured the win.
