The New England Patriots take on the New Orleans Saints in a preseason game at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, August 11, 2016.
New England Patriots quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo (10) and Jacoby Brissett (7) take the field before a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski strikes a pose before a preseason NFL football game between the Patriots and the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, left, speaks to Sean Payton before a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo warms up before the team's preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots fullback James Develin (46) and tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) warm up before a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo signals a score during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Sports agent Drew Rosenhaus, left, speaks with New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski on the sideline before a preseason NFL football game between the Patriots and the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia watches from the sideline during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) hands off to running back LeGarrette Blount (29) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, left, looks for a receiver as New Orleans Saints defensive end Bobby Richardson (98) is blocked during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) passes against the rush of New England Patriots defenders during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins (91) runs for the end zone past New Orleans Saints guard Senio Kelemete (65) after intercepting a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins (91) celebrates his touchdown after intercepting against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) celebrates with tackle Nate Solder (77) after a two-point conversion by James White during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, right, congratulates linebacker Jamie Collins (91) who scored a touchdown on an interception against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) scores a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Garrett Grayson (18) scores on a 2-point conversion over New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung (23) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (88) and New Orleans Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) fight for the ball during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. The pass was incomplete. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes as New Orleans Saints defensive end Obum Gwacham (58) rushes during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata (93) tries to get past a block by New England Patriots guard Joe Thuney (62) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes to running back James White, foreground, during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) eludes New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley (90) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) passes against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots running back Tyler Gaffney (36) runs for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick instructs New England Patriots tight end A.J. Derby during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots cornerback Cre'von LeBlanc, rear, makes an interception for a touchback on a pass intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver R.J. Harris (14) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Trey Flowers, right, sacks New Orleans Saints quarterback Luke McCown, causing a fumble during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. Flowers recovered the ball and ran for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Trey Flowers, left, picks up a fumble by New Orleans Saints quarterback Luke McCown (7) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. Flowers ran for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Trey Flowers, right, sacks New Orleans Saints quarterback Luke McCown, causing a fumble during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. Flowers recovered the ball and ran for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Trey Flowers celebrates after recovering a fumble by New Orleans Saints quarterback Luke McCown and running for a touchdown during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Trey Flowers, right, celebrates with Malcom Brown after recovering a fumble by New Orleans Saints quarterback Luke McCown and running for a touchdown during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, left, speaks with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees at midfield after a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots won 34-22. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, left, speaks to New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees at midfield after a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots won 34-22. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett passes against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, left, speaks with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick at midfield after a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots won 34-22. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo speaks to the media after a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots won 34-22. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media after a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots won 34-22. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Los Patriots de New England debutaron en la pretemporada con un triunfo frente a los Saints de New Orleans por 34-22 en el partido jugado en un caluroso y húmedo Gillette Stadium.
Ante la ausencia de Brady por razones personales (tuvo que asistir a un funeral de familia) fue Jimmy Garoppolo quien empezó las acciones con la ofensiva titular. Una ofensiva que no lograba mucho en el primer cuarto debido a un débil trabajo de su línea, hecho que complicó el trabajo de su QB.
"Tenemos que mejorar, porque tenemos retos mayores más adelante… Hice algunas cosas bien y otras mal, no fue perfecto", dijo el OT Nate Solder.
Finalizando el primer cuarto, luego de haber solo completado 3 de 7 pases, las cosas se compusieron y Garoppolo pudo encontrar un mejor ritmo, completando 8 de sus últimos 11 pases con un juego práctico y dinámico que contó con la complicidad del novato WR Malcolm Mitchell.
Garoppolo acab"ó su actuación completando 11 de 18 para 168 yardas.
No fue nuestro mejor inicio, no hay duda de eso. Empezamos lento, algo que nunca queremos hacer pero eso va a ocurrir a veces, nunca vas a empezar de la manera correcta. Se trata de cómo reaccionas ante eso. Fue una buena experiencia, estar en una situación difícil y ver cómo reaccionan los chicos. Creo que reaccionamos de la manera correcta", dijo Garoppolo en su conferencia.
Mitchell se convirtió en el tema de la noche, no solo por su gran accionar en el poco tiempo que estuvo en el campo (4 recepciones para 55 yardas) sino porque terminó saliendo lesionado tras torcerse el brazo izquierdo. Más tarde el equipo anunció que Mitchell sufrió una lesión al codo y que no retornará, Después del partido el Boston Globe reportó que Mitchell sufrió un codo dislocado y tiene para 4 semanas de descanso, según su fuente.
El juego de carrera también estuvo variado y versátil, con buenas actuaciones de James White (3 corridas para 12 yardas y 1 recepción para 56 yardas), Brandon Bolden (4 corridas para 33 yardas) y Tyler Gaffney (9 para 64 yardas, 1 TD).
Gaffney, quien ha pasado 2 temporadas recuperándose de lesiones finalmente pudo debutar en un partido de la NFL, el RB fue uno de los jugadores más buscados por la prensa al final del partido.
"Cuando anoté el TD no pensé mucho, fue un momento surreal para mi… Ha sido mucho tiempo, 2 años de rehabilitación y siento como que he vivido aquí el último par de años; yendo a rehabilitación, a reuniones y viendo a los chicos, pero creo que así he crecido y he podido salir adelante 2 años después".
Defensivamente vimos el debut del DE Chris Long en reemplazo de Rob Ninkovich, mientras que el también DE Trey Flowers repitió la buena actuación de hace un año (juego de pretemporada frente a los Packers). Flowers volvió y logró un sack y la recuperación de balón que culminó en TD.
"Es una bendición estar de regreso, agradezco a Dios la paciencia y la fe que tenía que iba eventualmente a regresar y poder demostrar [mi juego] es definitivamente una bendición", declaró Flowers.
Otro quien brilló fue el LB Jamie Collins al lograr una intercepción en el primer cuarto y correr con el balón 43 yardas para anotar su TD. Una jugada magistral que puso en despliegue la gran calidad de este versátil jugador.
En la secundaria, CB Darryl Roberts y DB Justin Coleman no lograron buenas actuaciones, contrario al CB Cre'Von LeBlanc (con una gran intercepcion de una mano en el end zone) y al DB Jonathan Jones.
Conclusión
Un primer juego de pretemporada que como se esperaba mostró muchos errores y deficiencias. Hasta aquí nada raro en un equipo que recién empieza y que cuenta con varias piezas nuevas. Lo importante es corregir los errores y salir el próximo jueves a tratar de desarrollar un juego más parejo a lo largo de los 60 minutos.
Un primer partido de pretemporada que a pesar de que el equipo mostró cierta debilidad por momentos, nos deja una buena impresión por parte de varias de sus piezas claves, y de sus jóvenes promesas.
Esperemos que, con una semana de preparación, la demostración de buen football por 60 minutos, retorne al Gillette. El talento está ahí, solo falta ajustar unas piezas.
