New England Patriots: 5 Things to Watch in Matchup Against Houston Texans

#1 Which Jacoby Brissett Shows Up?

For a rookie, third-string quarterback, Jacoby Brissett did about as well as he could have when he took the field early last season. His first of two starts last year came in a 27-0 win over the Texans, and he’ll need a similar performance to end the rumors of him being on the roster bubble.

In last season’s matchup, Brissett completed 11-of-19 passes for 103 yards and added 48 yards and this touchdown on the ground.

While the Patriots would be in trouble if Brissett has to play for an extended period of time this season, he is a valuable member of the team who shouldn’t even be considered on the roster bubble. Even if he’s not the heir apparent to Tom Brady, Brissett needs to remain on the roster until Jimmy Garoppolo’s future has been decided. That likely won’t occur until next offseason, so Brissett’s spot should be safe.

At this point, Brissett just needs to relax and take the next step forward in his development. He came out trying to throw 100 mile-per-hour fastballs in the opener when a little touch would have resulted in a much higher completion percentage.