COMMENTARY
The Patriots returned to Houston less than 200 days after winning Super Bowl LI in NRG Stadium (even finding leftover confetti). This time, instead of a Super Bowl, New England was in town to face the Texans in both teams’ second preseason game of 2017.
Here are a few takeaways from the Patriots’ 27-23 preseason loss:
The Patriots’ offensive starters are a work in progress
Tom Brady, Brandin Cooks, and many of the expected Patriots starters made their 2017 debuts against a capable Texans defense Saturday. Cooks, who was added in an offseason trade with the Saints, reeled in Brady’s first completion for a modest seven-yard pickup.