Tom Brady tosses three touchdowns in win over Bengals
In his first game of the 2010 regular season, and after signing his new four-year, $72 million contract extension, quarterback Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to a 38-24 victory on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots came out with a high level of energy and intensity that Cincinnati could not match, as New England scored on their opening possession and never looked back. Any questions about Wes Welker’s readiness to return to action after his knee injury were answered, as he hauled in a TD pass from Brady in the first quarter which capped a 72-yard scoring drive.
On New England’s next possession, Stephen Gostkowski connected on a 32-yard field goal to make it 10-0. Already facing a deficit, things went from bad to worst for the Bengals, after running back Cedric Benson fumbled the ball inside their own territory.
The Brady-Welker duo connected once more in the second quarter as Welker caught a four-yard TD pass, his second in the opening game of the year.
Brady completed 25 of 35 passes for 258 yards for three touchdowns, while Welker caught eight passes for a total of 64 yards. "I had pretty much instilled it in my mind that I would be back," Welker said. "I still have a ways to go. ... I have this stupid knee brace I hate. I can't wait to burn it. We're getting there, slowly but surely."
The passing game set up the run and 13-year veteran Fred Taylor was productive as a complementary back as he teed off on a Bengals defence that has been weak against the rush in this pre-season. Taylor finished with 71 yards on the ground on 14 carries, while Kevin Faulk rushed for 23 yards.
But this was a total team effort as both the defence and special teams also put points on the board. Gary Guyton intercepted a pass thrown by Cincinnati’s quarterback Carson Palmer and returned in 59 yards back for the major. Guyton’s first NFL touchdown was also the first interception by a New England linebacker in over a year.
Then Brandon Tate opened the second half with a 97-yard runback of the kickoff to give the Patriots a commanding 31-3 lead in the third quarter.
Palmer and his star receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens tried to make things interesting late in the game, but the deficit was simply too much to overcome. Palmer finished 34 of 50 for 345 yards and two touchdowns and Ochocinco had 12 catches for 159 yards, while Owens added seven receptions for 53 yards.
New England never lost a home game last year during the regular seson and they are off to another good start in 2010.
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