Patriots

Morning Sports Update: Rob Gronkowski limited in return, but ‘we got that win, baby”

Gronk was targeted just once and played only 14 snaps.

Gronk suited up, on the field, making a catch - during warmups. AP Photo/Elise Amendola

By Ryan Hathaway

The ‘Hooded Houdini’ led Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots to 3-0, and the Red Sox rolled right along to their eighth straight win.

Rob Gronkowski admits he was limited, but says ‘it just feels great playing football again’: It wasn’t the debut he may have imagined, as he didn’t catch a pass on just one target and played 12 of the 59 offensive plays, including only three in the second half, but that didn’t matter as he was just happy to get back out on the field and get a win. (WEEI)

Bill Belichick extremely grateful for his players, coaches in shutout win on short week: ‘They never batted an eye’: While Jacoby Brissett amazingly emerged victorious from his first NFL start with just four days to learn the offense, and the defense bounced back in a big way, the emphasis of the Patriots’ 27-0 dismantling of the Texans on Thursday Night Football was (rightfully) placed on a quite humble Bill Belichick, who moved to fourth on the All-Time wins list. (WEEI)

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Patriots’ defense ‘proved a lot’ in dominant shutout: If any storyline came close to rivaling the Patriots’ quarterback situation after Sunday’s game, it was the question of what happened to a supposedly elite defense that looked hapless against Ryan Tannehill. The unit answered those doubting its talent in a big way; completely shutting down the supremely-talented DeAndre Hopkins, not allowing a single score, and getting the offense back on the field consistently. (NESN)

Patriots smother Texans with special teams: Nobody takes special teams as seriously as Bill Belichick, and Thursday’s win showed why he invests so much time and resources into perfecting the oft-forgotten third unit. Ryan Allen, who the casual fan may need reminding is the team’s punter, was superb in lofting high punts that forced the Texans to start deep in their own end, while Nate Ebner and Brandon Bolden each forced fumbles that led to Patriots points. (NESN)

In season’s homestretch, Red Sox going full speed ahead: Perhaps unfairly, the surging Red Sox were the forgotten team Thursday night, as the AL East frontrunner won its eighth straight thanks to an imperfect but effective David Price, another Hanley Ramirez home run, and the ever-impressive Andrew Benintendi. The Sox have been the best team in baseball since the start of September, and look primed to make the most of David Ortiz’s final season. (Boston Globe)

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Jacoby Brissett explains why he gave Bill Belichick game ball: After scampering 27 yards for his first career touchdown, Jacoby Brissett celebrated with his teammates before turning his attention to the Patriots sideline. The unassuming rookie found his head coach on the sideline, and presented him with the ball instead of holding onto it. After the game, Brissett explained that his directive from Belichick was not to give the ball to the Texans, and the coach later returned it to him. (CSNNE)

Belichick on Brissett: “He’s just a hardworking kid that’s really dedicated to doing what’s right for the team”:

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