The New England Patriots were considered goners against the Houston Texans when their fate was left in the hands of a rookie and third string quarterback named Jacoby Brissett. As it turns out, it was a blessing in disguise.
With nothing to lose, Jacoby Brissett managed to hold the Patriots together right from kick-off. He made his presence felt right in the first quarter, scoring his first NFL career touchdown to start up things brightly for Bill Belichick. When the smoke cleared, the score was as surprising as the odds given. The Patriots won 27-0 over the favored Texans.
Did Brissett just get lucky?
Brissett's performance was not perfect though the thing is he was cool and calm. A lot of that stems from the hard work he put in as bared by Belichick via USA Today.
To some, it may be a fluke so Brissett will have one more chance against the Buffalo Bills next week. With Tom Brady still serving his four-game suspension and Jimmy Garoppolo out with a sprained shoulder, the rookie quarterback can prove that his performance was no joke.
Patriots just found their future quarterback?
With the prowess that he has shown, it is only normal that some critics have opened up the idea of elevating Jacoby Brissett from third string to starter. Now many are wondering what happens after the Bills game when Brady returns to the lineup.
Chances are Belichick will stick to Brady for as long as he performs well. But at 39, the veteran quarterback could be nearing the end of his career. Should he hang it up soon, Brissett has the inside track to succeed him.
How about Garoppolo?
Thanks to the surprise performance, some may have forgotten Jimmy Garoppolo. The 24-year-old is still expected to return though the question now is at what level.
He was expected to slide down to backup upon Brady’s return but all that changes with Brissett's breakout game. If the rookie comes up with another good performance, expect some changes after that.
The least he will be is a backup meaning Garoppolo could be now the third string. If Brady falters, don’t be surprised to see Brissett being the starter.
If the Patriots overlook Brissett, some other team may come knocking to deal for the rookie. With plenty of teams looking for a quarterback, Brissett now finds his name among the list of potential candidates.
