Tom Brady conjured a last-gasp Houdini act to save the New England
Patriots in a thrilling win over the Houston Texans on Sunday as the
Atlanta Falcons preserved their unbeaten record.
With events off the field dominating a dramatic day that saw widespread
player protests, Brady once again laid on a masterclass to throw for
five touchdowns in a 36-33 victory at Gillette Stadium.
The crowning moment of a 378-yard passing display by the 40-year-old
Brady came with the Patriots trailing 28-33 with just over two minutes
remaining.
An eight-play 75-yard drive ended with Brady hitting receiver Brandin
Cooks with a 25-yard pass into the end zone for the game-winning score.
The nerve-jangling finale capped an extraordinary game which had seen
sections of the Patriots crowd boo several of the team’s own players
after they opted to kneel during the playing of the national anthem
before kick-off.
Brady had stood with his arms interlocked in solidarity with his teammates during the solemn anthem rendition.
It was just one of several large protests by players across the league
on Sunday following remarks by US President Donald Trump. Trump had
enraged NFL stars and team owners on Friday by describing players who
protest during the anthem as “sons of bitches” who should be fired.
Around 130 players across the league took a knee on Sunday during the
anthem, easily the largest mass demonstration of its kind since former
San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick began the protests in 2016.
“We felt like President Trump’s speech was an assault on our most
cherished right — freedom of speech,” Denver star Von Miller explained
after kneeling before his team’s game against Buffalo.
Falcons soar
The Patriots win helped New England move to 2-1 in the AFC East, putting
them level with the Buffalo Bills who lead on points difference.
The Bills pulled off an upset win over the unbeaten Denver Broncos,
winning 26-16. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw for two touchdowns and 213
yards to spark the Bills.
But it was an unhappy afternoon for Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian,
who failed to throw for any touchdowns and was twice picked off for
costly interceptions.
Denver were one of seven previously unbeaten teams to taste defeat in early games on Sunday.
In Detroit, Matt Ryan threw for two touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons
won the battle of the unbeatens with a hard-fought 30-26 victory over
the Lions.
Ryan, desperate to atone this season after last year’s Super Bowl
collapse, made 24 completions from 35 passing attempts to finish with
294 yards at Ford Field.
The win leaves Atlanta with a perfect 3-0 record at the top of the NFC South while Detroit fell to 2-1 after the loss.
Matthew Stafford finished with 264 passing yards but was crucially
unable to mount a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter as the
Lions sought to overturn a four-point deficit.
The Carolina Panthers meanwhile saw their unbeaten start to the season
end with an emphatic 34-13 loss to the previously winless New Orleans
Saints.
Saints veteran quarterback Drew Brees shredded the vaunted Panthers defense with three touchdown passes for 220 yards.
Houston Texans defensive back Marcus Gilchrist (background) hits the arm of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (foreground) during the game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Sunday. (USA TODAY Sports)