Quarterback Tom Brady connected with wide receiver Brandin Cooks for the game-winning touchdown with 23 seconds remaining as the New England Patriots avoided a major upset with a 36-33 win over the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. With the Patriots trailing, 33-28 with 2:24 left in the fourth quarter, Brady led an eight-play, 75-yard drive that he capped with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Cooks. Brady then converted a two-point attempt for a three-point cushion. Rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson threw a “Hail Mary” pass with three seconds remaining but it was intercepted by safety Duron Harmon.
Brady completed 25 of 35 passes for 378 yards and five touchdowns for a passer rating of 146.2 as the Patriots improved to 2-1. The comeback win was the 52nd fourth-quarter comeback of Brady’s career. Cooks caught five passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns, tight end Rob Gronkowski received eight passes for 89 yards and a score, while Chris Hogan caught four passes for 68 yards and a touchdown for the Patriots.
Watson completed 22 of 33 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions as the Texans dropped to 1-2. Lamar Miller ran 14 times for 56 yards while DeAndre Hopkins caught seven passes for 76 yards as the Texans slipped to 0-6 all-time at Gillette Stadium.
Kicker powers Eagles past Giants
Rookie kicker Jake Elliott buried a 61-yard field goal as time expired to carry the Philadelphia Eagles to a 27-24 win over the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field. In his second game since being signed by the Eagles (2-1) to replace inured Caleb Sturgis, Elliott set the record of the longest field goal by a rookie and the longest in franchise history.
Before he was signed by the Eagles, Elliott was a former members of the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad.
Carson Wentz went 21-for-31 for 176 yards and a touchdown while LeGarrette Blount and Corey Clement ran for a touchdown each for the Eagles. Eli Manning completed 35 of 47 passes for three touchdowns and two interceptions while wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
caught nine passes for 79 yards and two scores as the Giants dropped to 0-3.
Bears edge Steelers in overtime
Jordan Howard scored on a 19-yard touchdown run in overtime to carry the Chicago Bears (1-2) to a 23-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) at Soldier Field. The Bears took a 17-7 lead at the break but the Le’Veon Bell scored on a one-yard touchdown in the third while Chris Boswell made a 32-yard field goal in the fourth to force overtime.
