Game Rewind:Tom Brady had a triumphant return from his four game suspension going 28-40 for 406 yards and three touchdown passes. It is the eighth time in his career that Brady has gone over 400 yards in a game.
Here are my five thoughts on the game.
1. Brady’s Return: There’s not much to say. There’s a reason Brady is considered the greatest quarterback of all time. You would have thought he was playing in his fifth game of the season. Instead, it’s his first game of the season and he’s already in mid-season form.
2. Martellus’ Big Day: Martellus Bennett caught 6 passes for 67 yards and three touchdowns. Bennett already has a great rapport with Brady, which is surprising because they have never played in a regular season game before. Bennett’s ability to get open on delay routes and underneath routes will prove to be an asset for the Patriots in their passing game.
3. The Return of Gronk: Gronk caught five balls for 109 yards today. While he didn’t score, Gronkowski impacted the game by stretching the middle of the field and creating one on one match ups on the outside for Chris Hogan and Julian Edelman. It’s hard to say with or not Gronk is fully healthy but he is healthy enough to make an impact.
4. “Hulk” Hogan: Chris Hogan was the biggest beneficiary of Tom Brady’s return. Hogan caught 4 passes for 114 yards in the win. We all knew Hogan would be a good fit when he signed with the Patriots but I’m not sure anyone thought he would look this good.
5. The Defense Was Iffy At Best: The Patriots only gave up 13 points today but they still struggled to get off the field on third down. That’s concerning, especially when you’re playing a team like the Browns. The defense has struggled the last three weeks and they need to start playing better. The Patriots have the look of a Super Bowl favorite but the defense is shoddy right now.