WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. — Moments after Tom Brady closed his workday with a touchdown pass to James White, the 40-year-old Patriots quarterback took off his helmet, strolled toward the sideline, looked to his right and smiled.
He was staring at receivers Julian Edelman and Brandin Cooks, who were aggressively yapping at Texans defensive backs Kareem Jackson and Marcus Gilchrist. It was validation for the key cogs of the Pats’ offensive machine, which took the Texans’ most valiant shot during two days of joint practices but still got the better of the battles.
Three weeks before the regular-season opener against the Chiefs, the Pats have to be feeling confident in an overwhelmingly talented offensive depth chart that just put on a clinic against a Texans defense that allowed the fewest yards in the NFL in 2016.