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Week 3 TNF Preview — Texans at Patriots
Week 3 begins on Thursday night with the New England Patriots hosting the Houston Texans (CBS, NFL Network, Twitter; 8:25 PM ET) at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots and Texans both enter Thursday’s matchup with 2-0 records. In Week 2, New England defeated Miami 31-24 while Houston topped Kansas City 19-12. The Patriots have won 27 of their past 29 games at home (including the postseason) and five of their past six regular-season contests against Houston. The Texans are aiming for their first 3-0 start since 2012. Houston head coach Bill O’Brien was an assistant under Patriots head coach Bill Belichick with New England from 2007-11.
| REGULAR SEASON SERIES | ||
| TEXANS | PATRIOTS | |
| SERIES LEADER | 5-1 | |
| STREAKS | Past 3 | |
| COACHES VS. OPP. | Bill O’Brien: 0-1 | Bill Belichick: 5-1 |
| LAST WEEK | W 19-12 vs. Kansas City | W 31-24 vs. Miami |
| LAST GAME | 12/13/15: Patriots 27 at Texans 6. New England QB Tom Brady throws for 226 yards & 2 TDs. Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has 4 catches for 87 yards & TD. | |
| LAST GAME AT SITE | 12/10/12: Patriots 42, Texans 14. New England QB Tom Brady throws for 296 yards & 4 TDs. Patriots RB Stevan Ridley adds 72 rushing yards & TD. | |
| REFEREE | Walt Coleman | |
| BROADCAST | CBS/NFLN/Twitter (8:25 PM ET): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms and Tracy Wolfson (Field reporter). Westwood One: Ian Eagle, Tony Boselli. | |
| STATS | ||
| PASSING | Brock Osweiler: 41-68-499-3-3-79.2 | Jacoby Brissett (R): 6-9-92-0-0-100.2 OR Jimmy Garoppolo: 42-60-498-4-0-117.2 |
| RUSHING | Lamar Miller: 53-189-3.6-0 | LeGarrette Blount: 51-193-3.8-2 |
| RECEIVING | DeAndre Hopkins: 12-167-13.9-2 | Julian Edelman: 14-142-10.1-0 |
| OFFENSE | 347.5 | 414 |
| TAKE/GIVE | 1 | 1 |
| DEFENSE | 274.5 | 401.5 |
| SACKS | John Simon: 2.5 | 3 tied: 1 |
| INTs | Andre Hal: 1 | Jamie Collins, Duron Harmon: 1 |
| PUNTING | Shane Lechler: 49.2 | Ryan Allen: 36.2 |
| KICKING | Nick Novak: 24 (3/3 PAT; 7/8 FG) | Stephen Gostkowski: 18 (6/6 PAT; 4/5 FG) |
NOTES
TEXANS: Aim for 2nd 3-0 start in team history (2012)…Head coach Bill O’Brien was assistant with NE from 2007-11…QB Brock Osweiler won only career start vs. NE (11/29/15 with Den.) & passed for 270 yards with TD…RB Lamar Miller had rush TD in last game at NE (10/29/15 with Mia.)…WR DeAndre Hopkins had 11 catches for 169 yards in last Thurs. game. Aims for 3rd in row with TD. Rookie WR Will Fuller is 3rd player in NFL history with 100+ rec. yards in each of 1st 2 career games…DE J.J. Watt has 6 sacks, 9 TFL & 45-yard FR-TD in 9 Thurs. games. Since entering NFL in 2011, has 76 sacks, most in NFL. Reached 75 sacks in 82nd game, 2nd fastest in NFL history (Hall of Famer Reggie White). LB Whitney Mercilus had sack in last game vs. NE. Has 8.5 sacks in past 4 (including playoffs). DE Jadeveon Clowney had 2 sacks in last meeting
PATRIOTS: Including the playoffs, have won 27 of past 29 at home…QB Jimmy Garoppolo is 2-0 as starter & has completed 42 of 60 (70 pct.) for 498 yards with 4 TDs, 0 INTs & 117.2 rating. Rookie QB Jacoby Brissett made NFL debut last week & completed 6 of 9 (66.7 pct.) for 92 yards & 100.2 rating…RB LeGarrette Blount rushed for 123 yards in Week 2 & aims for 3rd in row with rush TD…WR Julian Edelman aims for 3rd in row vs. Hou. with 100+ yards. Has 7 rec. TDs in past 10. TE Martellus Bennett had 5 catches for 114 yards & TD last week. Has 271 catches since 2012, 4th most by NFL TE. TE Rob Gronkowski has 10 catches for 214 yards (107 per game) & 2 TDs in past 2 vs. Hou. Since 2010, has 65 rec. TDs, most in NFL. In past 14 at home (incl. playoffs), has 15 rec. TDs. WR Danny Amendola had career-high 2 rec. TDs last week…LB Jamie Collins has 3 sacks & INT in past 3 (incl. playoffs). CB Malcolm Butler has 18 PD since 2015, most on club. CB Logan Ryan ranks 2nd with 15. DE Jabaal Sheard had 2 sacks & 2 FFs in last meeting.
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