Brady torches Saints in 36-20 Patriots victory

 If Tom Brady and the Patriots were suffering from a Super Bowl hangover, it looks as though a trip to New Orleans pulled the defending champions out of it.

The 40-year-old Brady hasn't often looked better in his long, illustrious career, providing an audible contingent of traveling Patriots fans ample reason to spend the rest of their Sunday celebrating in the French Quarter.

"Hopefully they're all on Bourbon Street," said Brady, whose name was chanted by fans as the game wound down, and again when he walked across the field to the team bus. "It was a good road game to come to."

Bouncing back with a vengeance from a season-opening loss , Brady threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter for the first time in his career, eclipsed 300 yards passing in the first half for only the second time, and New England scored 30 first-half points en route to a 36-20 victory over the winless Saints.

"Being 0-1 with a 10-day break felt like a year," Brady said, alluding to a Thursday night loss to Kansas City in Week 1. "All the veterans had a chance to say the things they wanted to say to their different (position) groups. ... I'm glad we executed. There were a lot of tight plays and we made them."

Saints coach Sean Payton bemoaned another poor outing by his defense, which also gave up a slew of quick strike plays to Minnesota in Week 1 .

"We've got the right type of locker room, but we're going to have to respond quickly," Payton said. "We'll find out a little bit about what we're made of."

Brady's maiden Super Bowl triumph in the Superdome back in February 2002 is bound to be one of his fondest memories, but the 18-year veteran looked like a superior QB in his latest visit. He finished 30 of 39 for 447 yards. He committed no turnovers - at least not any that counted. Saints defenders twice caught Brady's passes, but both plays were wiped out by New Orleans penalties. Brady joined Warren Moon as the only QBs 40 or older in NFL history to pass for at least 400 yards and 3 TDs in a game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Rob Gronkowski had a 53-yard catch and run to highlight his six-catch, 116-yard performance , but left the game in the second half with a groin injury .

In Brady and the Saints' Drew Brees, the game featured the NFL's top two active quarterbacks in terms of career yards and touchdowns. Their 922 TD passes and 128,251 yards passing combined coming in represented the most in NFL history by starting QBs the same game.

But in this matchup, Brees couldn't keep up.

He was 27 of 45 for 356 yards and two TDs. The Saints' desperation to stay close was encapsulated by a failed attempt to convert a fourth down - despite being in field goal range on the Patriots 25-yard line - with 2:27 left in the first half and New England up by 13.

Brady responded by quickly marching the Patriots to the Saints 10 to set up Stephen Gostkowski's field goal, making it 30-13 at halftime.

When asked to explain what's wrong with New Orleans, it seemed Brees wasn't sure where to begin.

"Unfortunately, it's just been a little bit everything right now," he said.

FAST START

The Patriots' first three drives ended with a 19-yard TD pass to Rex Burkhead, Gronkowski's long TD and a 13-yard scoring pass to Chris Hogan.

New Orleans briefly rallied with Brees' 5-yard TD pass to Brandon Coleman and Wil Lutz's field goal on consecutive drives, pulling as close as 20-13. But New England responded with Mike Gillislee's short scoring run on a drive highlighted by downfield passes to Gronkowski, Hogan and former Saint Brandin Cooks.

"Our team responded well to this week of practice," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "We made some plays early in the game. We were able to play from ahead, and that was a good thing. A lot of different people contributed."

SEPTEMBERS TO FORGET

The Saints are now 1-11 in September since 2014, having begun 0-2 in four straight campaigns. The Saints have finished 7-9 the past three seasons.

"It puts you in a little bit of a hole, but we can't cry over spilled milk here," Brees said. "We've got to find a way to get a win."

INJURIES

Patriots: In addition to Gronkowski's groin injury, Burkhead had a rib injury in the second half. Hogan appeared to trying to treat soreness in his right leg in the second half. DB Eric Rowe was treated for a groin injury.

Saints: Rookie CB Marshon Lattimore left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. DE Trey Hendrickson left the game late in the first quarter with what the club described as a leg injury. DE Mitch Loewen needed help off the field after injuring his left leg in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Patriots: return home to face the Houston Texans.

Saints: open NFC South divisional play at Carolina.

Super letdown: Patriots routed in 2nd half, Chiefs win 42-27

Winning at New England when the Patriots are coming off an historic Super Bowl victory is worth getting a little wild over.

That's not the Kansas City Chiefs' style. Not even when a rookie is setting records.

Kareem Hunt, after fumbling on his first NFL carry, scored three times and set an NFL mark in a 42-27 stunner Thursday night to open the NFL season. Hunt's 246 yards in his pro debut were a record since the 1970 merger.

"We're going to enjoy the heck out of it," coach Andy Reid said after a superb second half carried his team. "It's one of 16 and something to build on."

Judging by how they won, it certainly is. There were big plays all over the field. The Chiefs, not the Patriots, were making them. Particularly Hunt.

"It started out just a little bit shaky, but it was all heart," Reid said of the third-round draft pick. "He was trying too hard."

Alex Smith threw two long touchdown passes and became the first quarterback with 300-plus yards, four TDs and no interceptions against coach Bill Belichick. The 42 points were the most the Patriots have allowed in Belichick's 17-plus seasons.

Coming off their sensational Super Bowl rally to a fifth Lombardi Trophy, the Patriots faded badly in the second half. A raucous sold-out crowd of 65,878 celebrated the unveiling of yet another championship banner, and there was plenty of talk about Tom Brady leading them to a 19-0 record.

After Week 1, though, they are winless.

"I just think we need to have more urgency and go out there and perform a lot better," Brady said "It's a winning attitude, a championship attitude you have to bring every day. We had it handed to us on our own field."

It was the first time the Patriots lost at Gillette Stadium when leading at halftime, a span of 82 games. They were no match for the Chiefs in the last two periods.

Tyreek Hill scored on a 75-yarder and Hunt put the Chiefs in front with a 78-yarder to punctuate Kansas City's charge after trailing 17-14 at halftime. Hunt also had a 58-yard scamper and finished with 148 yards rushing and 98 receiving. Hill had 133 yards through the air, and Smith went 28 for 35 for 368 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions.

"To start on your first carry like that and have it go like that, it would be hard to overcome for a lot of guys," Smith said of Hunt, from Toledo. "I thought it was awesome coach coming right back to him.

"There was a good chunk there where we were going as Kareem was going. He was really a big chunk of the offense tonight. For a young guy, we put a lot on him, in all facets of the offense tonight, and he was able to handle it.'

Brady, the 13th quarterback to start an NFL game at age 40, didn't look too spry. He struggled mightily in the second half and didn't throw for a touchdown, finishing 16 for 36 for 267 yards.

"Just a very poor effort and we'll have to do a lot better," Brady said. "Didn't make a lot of plays tonight, actually."

Patriots newcomer Mike Gillislee scored on three short runs, becoming the first player since Terrell Owens of Philadelphia in 2004 to score three touchdowns in his debut with a new team.

And Kansas City aided the Patriots' cause with 15 penalties for 139 yards. Yet, in the end, the Chiefs looked like world-beaters.

At the beginning, it seemed like an extension of February's Super Bowl. Riled up, Brady and the Patriots tore through the opposing defense as if it belonged to, well, the Falcons, scoring in nine plays, with Gillislee surging in from the 2.

One play later, they were at it again as Hunt fumbled. The Patriots took over at the Kansas City 32 and appeared to go up 14-0 on Rob Gronkowski's diving catch. Then a replay review overturned the score, with NFL headquarters - which now makes final decisions on such reviews - determining the ball hit the ground as Gronk came down in the end zone.

Gillislee was stopped on fourth-and-inches at the KC 10 and the Chiefs, looking very much like the host team, marched 90 yards in 12 plays. Hunt made up for his early gaffe by gaining 25 yards on the tying drive, which Smith capped with a sharp 8-yard pass to Demetrius Harris.

The teams traded long touchdown drives, New England going 82 yards to Gillislee's second TD, the Chiefs covering 92 yards at the end of the half before Hunt ran in with a 3-yard swing pass.

Stephen Gostkowski's 25-yard field goal was the margin for New England's halftime edge.

But the crowd's fervor was silenced with Hill's long touchdown on which prized free agent addition cornerback Stephon Gilmore was torched. Hunt sped down the middle behind linebacker Kyle Van Noy and DE/LB Cassius Marsh to put Kansas City in front for good.

SHORT YARDAGE

New England failed twice in the first quarter on short-yardage runs, by Gillislee and Super Bowl hero James White, and again in the fourth period, by Gillislee. If anyone proclaimed the Patriots were missing RB LeGarrette Blount, who scored 18 TDs last season and was a beast in such situations, well, Gillislee, who came from Buffalo as a restricted free agent, ran in for a pair of 2-yard touchdowns and a 1-yarder.

ROGER, ROGER

Not only did the crowd revel in the video highlights from the Super Bowl, the fans booed vigorously when Commissioner Roger Goodell was shown talking on the sideline Chiefs owner Clark Hunt during warmups. A website distributed thousands of towels featuring Goodell's face adorned with a clown nose, and many fans also had T-shirts with the caricature. Goodell watched the game from a suite, but not with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

INJURIES

Kansas City's star safety Eric Berry was carted off with 4:56 remaining with an Achilles tendon injury that Reid feared was a tear that would sideline Berry for the season.

The Patriots lost perhaps their best defensive player, linebacker Dont'a Hightower, in the third quarter with a knee injury. His absence showed on Hunt's long TD reception. ... WR Danny Amendola left in the fourth quarter with a head injury. He's projected as New England's slot receiver with Julian Edelman out for the season.

UP NEXT

Chiefs: Host Philadelphia on Sept. 17.

Patriots: Visit New Orleans on Sept. 17.

Blount, Patriots pull away from Steelers 27-16

 Their momentum gone and the Pittsburgh Steelers surging behind backup quarterbackLandry Jones, the New England Patriots needed something to get them going.

They found inspiration in the usual places: LeGarrette Blount's churning legs, Tom Brady's accurate right arm andRob Gronkowski's massive hands.

Twice the undermanned Steelers needed one stop to give their offense the ball with a chance to take the lead on Sunday afternoon.

And twice the Patriots instead went right down the field instead, pulling away for a 27-16 victory that left little doubt as to where the balance of power in the AFC sits as the season reaches its halfway point.

The Steelers were within 14-13 when Blount broke runs of 11 and 25 yards to set up a 36-yard touchdown from Brady to Gronkowski early in the third quarter.

When another Pittsburgh field goal brought Pittsburgh within four, the Patriots responded with another long touchdown drive fueled by a 37-yard catch-and-run by Gronkowski that set up Blount's second touchdown of the game.

"It was good to score like that and good to make plays in the second half that we needed to," Brady said. "They certainly made it tough on us."

Maybe, but the Steelers (4-3) also made it tough on themselves. Pittsburgh scored one touchdown in four trips to the red zone and was flagged 10 times for 85 yards, including a holding call in the second quarter that wiped out a touchdown pass that would have tied the game.

Instead, Chris Boswell missed a 42-yard field goal and Pittsburgh never legitimately came close to evening the score again.

"You can't waste red zone trips, you have to come off blocks and make tackles in the run game, you can't give up explosion plays, we did," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "That's why we lost."

Brady, Blount and Gronkowski had plenty to do with it too. Brady completed 19 of 26 for 222 yards and two touchdowns to improve to 9-2 against Pittsburgh. Gronkowski caught four passes for 93 yards and his 68th touchdown catch, tying Stanley Morgan for the most in club history. Blount finished with 127 yards rushing and two scores against the team he walked away from 2014 .

"His runs were able to settle us down," New England coach Bill Belichick said of Blount.

New England (6-1) remained perfect since Brady returned from his four-game "Deflategate" suspension and while the Patriots lost a pair of fumbles they also didn't throw an interception, making them the third team since 1960 to get through the first seven weeks of the season without throwing it to the other team, joining the 1960 Browns and 2008 Redskins.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley hardly limited the playbook with Jones under center. The fourth-year quarterback did what Roethlisberger likes to do, particularly getting the ball to running back Le'Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Bell finished with 149 yards of total offense and Brown caught seven passes for 106 yards, but too often Pittsburgh settled for field goals (or field goal attempts) when touchdowns were required.

"We just got to the red zone a lot of times and turned the ball over, you can't have that," Bell said. "I mean, it is a small margin for error against a team like that."

FLEET FEET

The 39-year-old quarterback who once ran the 40-yard dash at the combine in a not-so fleet 5.28 seconds can still run away from the bad guys. Brady ran for three first downs in the first half, mashing his way on a quarterback sneak and twice escaping pressure and outrunning defenders a decade or more younger for the necessary yardage.

NOT-SO RELIABLE

New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a regular season extra point during his rookie year in 2006 and then didn't miss another one until last week against Cincinnati, an NFL record streak of 479 attempts between misfires (though there was that costly missed kick in last year's AFC championship game ). Gostkowski didn't have to wait nearly as long until watching a second one go astray. Gostkowski misfired on a third-quarter extra point that kept the Steelers within seven.

"This is a tough place to kick," Belichick said. "I'm not making any excuses. The kicker on the other side of the field had trouble too."

In addition to the 42-yarder he missed, Boswell misfired on a 54-yarder with the Steelers down two scores in the fourth quarter.

QUOTABLE

"We're looking like garbage right now. This is terrible right now." - Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier on his team's run defense.

UP NEXT

Patriots: visit Buffalo next Sunday. The Bills beat the Brady-less Patriots 16-0 in New England on Oct. 2.

Steelers: off next week then visit AFC North rival Baltimore on Nov. 6.

Brady has big day in homecoming, Patriots beat Bengals 35-17

Tom Brady had a smooth regular-season home debut.

Playing his first game in Foxborough since the end of his "Deflategate" suspension, Brady had three touchdown passes and went over 5,000 completions for his career , and the Patriots beat the Cincinnati Bengals 35-17 on Sunday.

Brady finished 29 for 35 for 376 yards. Tight end Rob Gronkowski had seven receptions for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown.

"I think I know how to get to that place where I need to be," Brady said. "You only have so much energy, and at some point you gotta cut it loose when the moment's right."

Cincinnati dropped to 2-4 for the first time since 2010, when it finished 4-12 - its worst season under coach Marvin Lewis.

The Bengals had their moments offensively, scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run by Andy Dalton and 5-yard pass from Dalton to Brandon LaFell. Dalton finished 21 of 31 for 254 yards.

But New England (5-1) bounced back from some sluggish drives early with several big plays in the third quarter.

The Bengals scored on their first drive after halftime to briefly take a 14-10 lead. The Patriots swiftly responded with a safety and a pair of touchdown passes by Brady -first to Gronkowski, then to James White - to put the Patriots back in front.

Cincinnati has lost in its past six trips to New England. It hasn't won in Foxborough since 1986.

QUOTABLE: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis on his team's recent struggles: "It's disappointing. We're doing a lot of things right, and doing things good, and correct. But we're not finishing things. We continue to be our own Achilles heel, way too often. Whether it's a penalty on defense, which sets us back, or a key third down conversion. It turns out to be the key to the football game."

TE Martellus Bennett on a late-game shoving match between several players on both sides followingLeGarrette Blount's 1-yard touchdown run: "That's just what it is. We don't back down. We're not looking for trouble, but we don't walk away from trouble either."

MISSED OPPORTUNITY: The Bengals had a chance to score in the first half, but couldn't convert on three straight plays from the 1-yard line.

New England led 3-0 early in the second quarter when Dalton hit Giovani Bernard for 32 yards to the 6-yard line. Bernard ran for 5 more on first down to put it inside the 1. On second down, though, Bernard was stopped for no gain. Dalton's pass to A.J. Green in the left corner of the end zone on third down was well covered byMalcolm Butler, setting up a fourth-and-goal from a foot.

Bernard took the handoff and drove into the line, but the Patriots pushed him back and took over on downs.

The Bengals forced the Patriots to punt and then brought it back to the goal line on their next possession before Dalton ran it in himself from the 2 to make it 7-3.

TWO-MINUTE DRILL: Brady was efficient in the Patriots' final drive of the first half. After throwing an incompletion and taking an 8-yard sack to begin the drive, he ended it with five straight completions, including a 39-yard pass to Chris Hogan to set up the 15-yard touchdown pass to White. The drive took just 2:09 off the clock.

GOING DEEP: Including the 39-yard reception in the second quarter, Hogan has five catches of at least 20 yards on the season. That is more than any other Patriots receiver.

SAFETIES SQUARED: Patriots LB Dont'a Hightower delivered his second safety in two weeks. He dragged down Dalton in the end zone in the third quarter to cut Cincinnati's lead to 14-12. Hightower also forced a safety against Cleveland last week when he pressured Browns quarterback Cody Kessler into a backward pass that went out of the end zone.

GRONK GETS ON THE BOARD: After going three games this season without reaching the end zone, Gronkowski got his first touchdown reception of the season in the third quarter. Gronk got free over the middle and hauled in a 4-yard catch that put the Patriots up 19-14 after Stephen Gostkowski's extra point. It was the first time that Brady and Gronk have connected for a TD this season. Gronk celebrated with his usual spike of the football.

INJURIES: Patriots LB Elandon Roberts left early in the second quarter with a head injury. Cincinnati centerRussell Bodine limped off with a right leg injury in the third quarter. Patriots defensive lineman Woodrow Hamilton left the game in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury.

UP NEXT: Cincinnati: Bengals host Browns on Sunday.

New England: Patriots travel to Steelers on Sunday.

Pumped up: Brady passes for 406 yards in return for Patriots

 Another win in the books, Tom Bradyjogged off the field as he's done so many times before.

As the Patriots fans who invaded Cleveland cheered and chanted his name, Brady waved and smiled before heading into the locker room and celebrating with his teammates.

His eyes only focused forward, he savored every second.

He missed this.

"I'm back doing what I love to do," he said.

Looking razor-sharp at times and relatively rust-free after serving his four-game "Deflategate" suspension, Brady passed for 406 yards and threw three touchdowns toMartellus Bennett in his hyped return as the Patriots thumped the Cleveland Browns 33-13 on Sunday.

New England's star quarterback was back - much to the relief of teammates and Patriots fans everywhere - following a ban for his role in the scandal in which an NFL investigation found that the four-time Super Bowl champion Patriots under-inflated footballs in the 2015 AFC championship game.

Brady fought Commissioner Roger Goodell's ruling for more than a year before he begrudgingly accepted his punishment.

And while it appeared he took out some frustration on the Browns (0-5), Brady insisted he's not seeking revenge.

"This isn't a time for me to reflect," he said. "There's no point at looking back at anything. Whether we won Super Bowls or lost championship games or the last four weeks, none of it matters.

"I've just moved on, man."

Brady passed for 271 yards in the first half as the Patriots (4-1) rebounded from a stinging shutout last week at home to Buffalo.

Brady threw two short TD passes in the first half to Bennett before hooking up with his new teammate on a 37-yarder to give the Patriots a 30-7 lead in the third.

He thoroughly enjoyed his return, even posing like Olympic track star Usain Bolt after a 4-yard run to signal for a first down.

"I don't run much, and when I do I get excited," he said, smiling.

Coach Bill Belichick replaced Brady with 6:02 left, greeting him on the sideline with a handshake and pat on the back.

The 39-year-old was far from perfect, overthrowing Julian Edelman for a possible long TD, but Brady spread the ball around and showed a nice touch on a few passes, including a floater to Rob Gronkowski for 37 yards in the fourth.

"We hadn't seen him in a while," said Edelman, Brady's teammate for eight seasons who was not surprised by the performance.

"You train with a guy. You go to camp with a guy. You've played a number of years with a guy. To see what he's gone through, you're going to get excited."

Following the game, Brady basked in the adulation from the Patriots fans ringing the entrance to the tunnel, Following his news conference, Brady stylish as always in a blue tailored suit, posed for a few photos with fans before he was greeted by friends, including former Browns tight end Aaron Shea, who threw his arms around his Michigan teammate.

LeGarrette Blount added a 1-yard score for the Patriots, who all drew inspiration from Brady's return.

"We were all intense today, all amped up," said Gronkowski, who had five catches for 109 yards. "Tom always brings the ampness to the table."

Unfortunately for the Browns, a rebuilding season is spiraling out of control.

Cleveland has dropped seven straight and 14 of 15, and Browns coach Hue Jackson is running out of quarterbacks after rookie Cody Kessler was knocked out in the first half with rib and chest injuries. Charlie Whitehurst replaced him, becoming the fifth quarterback to play for Cleveland in five games.

When Brady ran onto the field for New England's first play, thousands of fans, many wearing his No. 12 jersey, cheered.

At that moment, all was right again from Cambridge to Maine's coastline.

Brady completed his first pass to his favorite target, Edelman, and connected twice on New England's opening drive with Gronkowski, who sidestepped a couple of tacklers and looked like the indomitable "Gronk" while bulling his way to the Cleveland 1.

It was a new beginning, a fresh start for Brady, who found comfort after so many months of angst.

"It was fun to come out and play and fun to win," he said. "That's the most important thing."

BROKEN BROWNS

Kessler took a hard shot from Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower while trying to throw a swing pass to Duke Johnson at the Cleveland 10.

The pass was behind Johnson and skipped out of the end zone, giving the Patriots a safety. Jackson said Kessler did not break anything and his status will be addressed in the next few days.

Charlie Whitehurst played the second half, but sustained a knee injury in the final minutes.

JONES JETTISONED

Patriots rookie cornerback Cyrus Jones was ejected in the third quarter for unsportsmanlike conduct.

A second-round pick from Alabama, Jones got tangled with Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins on the opposite side of the field.

After the game, referee Bill Vinovich said Jones was ejected because "it was deemed that he threw a punch."

GROUNDED GAME

The Patriots held the NFL's top rushing team to 27 yards on 22 carries. Cleveland came in leading the NFL with 149.3 yards rushing.

Isaiah Crowell picked up just 22 on 13 attempts, a far cry from 6.4-yard average in Cleveland's first four games.

Bills QB Taylor commanding in 16-0 win over Patriots

Buffalo took advantage of sloppy, Tom Brady-less New England to hand the Patriots their first home shutout at Gillette Stadium, winning 16-0 Sunday.

It was the first loss of the season for New England (3-1), which was playing its final game before Brady returns from his four-game "Deflategate" suspension. The Patriots, who moved into Gillette Stadium in 2002, were last blanked at home 6-0 by the New York Jets in 1993 at Foxboro Stadium.

Tyrod Taylor connected with LeSean McCoy for a 7-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, Dan Carpenter added three field goals for Buffalo (2-2).

It was Buffalo's second win in its last 16 visits to Foxborough. Including his tenure with the New York Jets, it gave Bills coach Rex Ryan his first regular-season road victory over Bill Belichick in eight tries. The last Bills' shutout win away From Orchard Park was 23-0 over Washington in a Buffalo "home" game at Toronto on Oct. 30, 2011.

After struggling to maintain drives and finding a run-pass balance, Taylor was spot-on Sunday. He finished 27 for 39 for 246 yards, and directed a unit that was 7 for 15 on third downs. The Bills had been 10 of 36 combined in the first three games.

Buffalo's defense also carried over its dominant effort from its 33-18 win over Arizona, sacking rookie Jacoby Brissett three times.

Brissett made his second consecutive start in place of Jimmy Garoppolo (sore right shoulder). But Brissett, playing a week after injuring his right thumb, struggled to find the command he had in leading the Patriots to a 27-0 win over the Texans. New England finished 1 for 12 on third downs and managed just 277 total yards. The Patriots drove into Buffalo territory only four times, with three of those drives ending in a lost fumble by Brissett, a missed field goal, and a turnover on downs.

"Nothing was good enough," Belichick said. "At any position, at any phase of the game. It just wasn't good enough."

After managing to reach the red zone with four drives in their first three games, the Bills did it on their first two series Sunday.

Their first possession, a 12-play, 65-yard drive, ended in Taylor's touchdown strike to McCoy. The second stretched 52 yards over 10 plays and was capped by the first of two first-half field goals by Dan Carpenter.

QUOTABLE:

Ryan on getting a regular-season win in Foxborough: "God, it feels good to finally win here. ...It's satisfying. But let's face it: They had a player out."

Patriots WR Julian Edelman on that missing player: "Anytime one of your best players isn't there, there's something missing. We handled a lot of it well. Today we just didn't. The Bills outplayed us, so that's that."

PREGAME SCUFFLE: Several punches were thrown when a shoving match erupted near the sideline about an hour before kickoff. The altercation appeared to begin when Brissett was jogging along the field and was shoved by Bills safety Robert Blanton. Brissett didn't stop, and New England rookie receiver Malcolm Mitchellretaliated by shoving Blanton. Blanton responded by punching Mitchell in the chest and head-butting him, which led to several other players and assistant coaches getting involved. Later, Bills safety Aaron Williamsshoved a Patriots assistant coach attempting to separate the players. As the scuffles began to dissipate, Buffalo cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman landed a punch on Blanton's facemask.

FIRST DOWN EFFICIENCY: The Bills matched a season high for first downs with 16 in the first half alone. Buffalo had 16 in each of its past two games after opening the season with 11 in a 13-7 loss at Baltimore. Taylor opened by hitting 14 of his first 17 attempts for 138 yards and a touchdown before closing the half 17 of 22 for 165 yards. That topped the 119 yards passing he had in last week's 33-18 win over Arizona.

SLOW GOING: The Patriots' offense was anemic in the opening quarter, failing to get a first down while managing 20 total yards. It was the first time the Patriots went without a first-quarter first down since Week 8 of 2011 against Pittsburgh. Bills safety Aaron Williams said the win was still satisfying even with Brady out.

"We're probably going to hear the excuses that (Brissett) was a third-string quarterback. Garoppolo was out and Tom didn't (play) ... It's a game man. They get paid just like we do. They got to prepare just like we do."

FIRST CATCH: TE Rob Gronkowski, who played sparingly in his season debut last week, caught his first pass of the season, an 11-yard reception in the fourth quarter.

INJURIES: Patriots DT Vincent Valentine left in the third quarter with a back injury. Bills CB Corey White was escorted to the locker room in the fourth quarter and placed in the concussion protocol after being shaken up while covering punt.

Rookie Brissett, Blount lead Patriots past Texans 27-0

Another week, another new quarterback, another win for the New England Patriots.

Jacoby Brissett had a 27-yard touchdown run in his first NFL start,LeGarrette Blount added scoring runs of 1 and 41 yards , and the Patriots beat the Houston Texans 27-0 on Thursday night.

It was the Patriots' first shutout win since 2012 and the first time the Texans have been shutout since 2003.

Brissett began the season as the third-string quarterback behind Tom Brady, the franchise cornerstone who is serving a four-game suspension for his role in "Deflategate," and Jimmy Garoppolo - inactive after injuring his right shoulder last week against Miami. Brissett's start on Thursday was the first time that New England had started a rookie quarterback since Drew Bledsoe in 1993.

The Texans (2-1) entered the game with the NFL's third-ranked defense and nine sacks through two games, but they struggled to put pressure on the 23-year-old quarterback.

Brissett was steady throughout, moving the chains on offense with a diet of short passes and scrambles. The Patriots (3-0) also mixed in lots of pre-snap motion and shifts that helped create both throwing and running lanes for Brissett. He finished the night 11 of 19 for 103 yards, and ran eight times for 48 yards.

Houston didn't help itself on special teams either, turning the ball over twice on fumbled kickoff returns. Houston quarterback Brock Osweiler was 24 for 41 for 196 yards and was sacked twice. He also had a promising drive in the second quarter thwarted by Jamie Collins' interception . The Texans had a chance to get on the board just before halftime, but that drive stalled at midfield.

Lamar Miller rushed 22 times for 84 yards.

QUOTABLE:

Brissett on his first NFL touchdown: "It was crazy. It was awesome. Definitely great to see all the players just run up to you. I got a headache from all the head bobbing and head bumping. But it was definitely worth it."

Osweiler on the loss: "I felt like we had a great week of preparation, very focused. The game plan was solid and we worked hard. So this is hard to take. But the bottom line is that New England had a great game plan. They deserve all the credit. But we'll bounce back from this one."

BLOUNT FORCE: Blount ran 24 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns, including the 41-yarder in the fourth quarter to give New England a 27-0 lead. It's the third time in his career he has had back-to-back 100-yard games, and the first time since 2011. Blount also had a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter.

GRONK RETURNS: Tight end Rob Gronkowski made his season debut after sitting out the first two weeks with a hamstring injury he sustained during training camp. Gronk was used sparingly and mainly as a blocker, appearing in just 14 snaps, and three in the second half.

RUNNING QBS: Brissett's 27-yard touchdown run was the longest for a Patriots quarterback since Steve Grogan went 41 yards for a score in 1976. The longest run of Tom Brady's career is 22 yards.

"I was just running until I got stopped," Brissett said. "It worked out how we planned it was going to work out. The guys up front did a great job. And Malcolm on that side did a great job blocking that guy."

CHALLENGE: The Patriots' first touchdown was set up by a successful coach's challenge by Bill Belichick. After Stephen Gostkowski's 24-yard field goal put New England up 3-0, Houston's Charles James fielded the ensuing kickoff from just inside the end zone. James ran it out, and was tripped up at the 17. But the ball squirted out on a hit by Brandon Bolden. Duron Harmon recovered for the Patriots, but James ruled down on the field. Belichick challenged, and the call was reversed.

STREAK ENDS: The Texans entered Thursday having not allowed touchdown in six consecutive quarters. That streak ended in the first quarter with Brissett's 27-yard touchdown run.

INJURIES: Houston tight end Stephen Anderson left the game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return.

MOVING ON UP: Belichick tied Curly Lambeau for fourth place on the regular-season wins list with 226. He is now only behind Tom Landry (250), George Halas (318) and Don Shula (328).

Patriots' Garoppolo injured, still beat Dolphins 31-24

The New England Patriots have a brand new quarterback issue.

Jimmy Garoppolo had three touchdown passes before leaving in the second quarter with a right shoulder injury as the New England Patriots outlasted the Miami Dolphins 31-24 on Sunday.

It was the Patriots' eighth straight home victory over Miami (0-2). It came at a price as New England (2-0) was dealt another blow at quarterback withTom Brady already out his four-game "Deflategate" suspension.

Garoppolo's injury came on third down with less than five minutes left in the first half. He was chased out of the pocket and got off a completion toMalcolm Mitchell and driven into the ground on his shoulder by Miami linebacker Kiko Alonso.

Garoppolo initially got up, before going down to one knee and being attended to by the training staff. He ended his day 18 of 27 for 234 yards and the three scores.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick, never one to reveal much information, said of Garoppolo's injury: "I don't know yet. So we'll take it day by day."

Garoppolo was replaced by rookie Jacoby Brissett, who led New England to a touchdown on its first possession of the second half. Brissett was 6 of 9 for 92 yards. LeGarrette Blount rushed 29 times for 123 yards and a touchdown.Martellus Bennett also had five catches 114 and a touchdown.

The Dolphins, who beat the Patriots in Miami in last season's finale, had no answers for New England's offense early and fell into a 24-0 hole as they were stymied by three turnovers. Ryan Tannehill finally found some traction and trimmed a 31-3 deficit to 31-24 with 6:06 to play.

Tannehill didn't complete a pass until the second quarter as the Patriots' defensive line pressured him into quick throws. The pressure culminated with Tannehill being intercepted by linebacker Jamie Collins late in the first half.

QUOTABLE:

Patriots WR Julian Edelman on losing Garoppolo: "This game is a 100 percent injury rate. It's football and everyone's just gotta do their job a little bit better."

Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill on the slow offensive start: "We couldn't get anything going. We kept putting our defense back on the field after long drives. It's tough on the defense. ... We need to get points on the board early - and give our defense a break."

COMEBACK DOLPHINS: Tannehill found Kenny Stills for a 24-yard touchdown in the third quarter and connected withJordan Cameron for a 12-yard score in the fourth. Kenyan Drake also had a 7-yard touchdown run as Miami closed the gap. Tannehill completed 20 of his first 21 passes to begin the second half.

The usually reliable Stephen Gostkowski missed a 39-yard field goal with 1:08 to play. But Duron Harmon intercepted Tannehill's pass in the back of the end zone with 2 seconds remaining. Tannehill finished 32 of 45 for 389 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

"We were in a tough situation," Tannehill said. "At that point, you can go one of two ways. You can either pack it up for the day, or battle. And those guys battled. That's what you want to see."

QUICK START: Garoppolo had touchdown passes on each of the Patriots' first three drives to build a 21-0 lead.

He had four completions of over 10 yards on the opening drive, capping it with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola. New England's second drive mirrored the first with Garoppolo finding Chris Hogan for gains of 19 and 24 yards. The series ended with a 20-yard scoring strike to Bennett .

NO GRONK: Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (hamstring) was inactive for the second consecutive game. But New England made do without him. Garoppolo completed passes to seven receivers before his injury, including six completions toJulian Edelman.

Bennett, primarily used as a blocker in last week's win at Arizona, had an early 26-yard reception to go with his 20-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter.

HIGH RISER: Blount was active on the ground to help take pressure off both Garoppolo and Brissett. He brought the Gillette Stadium crowd to its feet during his 26-yard turn in the fourth quarter, which ended with him hurdling cornerback Byron Maxwell.

INJURIES: Miami RB Arian Foster left with a groin injury in the second quarter and did not return. Linebacker Spencer Paysinger also left the game with a neck injury.