FOXBOROUGH –It would have been hard to top the performance Jimmy Garoppolo gave in his first-ever NFL start a week ago in Arizona. The third-year player set expectations high for his first home game at Gillette Stadium as Patriots starter – the first of a three-game home stand before starting QB Tom Brady returns from an NFL suspension.
Not only would it be a tall order to ask Garoppolo to replicate his Week 1 heroics against a tough, defensive-minded AFC East foe in the Miami Dolphins, it would surely be unrealistic to hope he could play even better than he did on the road in Phoenix last week… right?
In the early going, it didn't appear crazy at all. Garoppolo completed all but one of his 10 pass attempts over the first two possessions, both of which resulted in Garoppolo throwing touchdown passes (to WR Danny Amendola and TE Martellus Bennett) to put New England up 14-0 after just half a quarter had expired. Meanwhile, the Patriots defense came up with equally valiant efforts to force Miami into punt situations on their first two drives.
Garoppolo very nearly brought the house down with a brilliantly designed play that saw Matthew Slater – yes, the special teams co-captain – beat the Dolphins D on a fly pattern that would have been an automatic touchdown. Garoppolo just overshot his intended target. Still, that drive eventually ended with a similar result as the first: Garoppolo to Amendola for six. Just like that, 21-0 New England.
Thereafter, Garoppolo and the offense came back down to earth – in the quarterback's case, too literally. After a drive that ended with the first Patriots punt of the day, Garoppolo began having trouble connecting with his receivers, partially because his pocket was frequently collapsing on him. Then, with about four minutes to play in the first half, Dolphins LB Kiko Alonso chased Garoppolo down as the QB was throwing on the run to his right. Alonso slammed Garoppolo into the turf, with the QB's (throwing) right shoulder taking the full impact. He was in obvious pain on the field for several minutes while the team's medical staff assisted him. Garoppolo later was escorted to the locker room and didn't return.
View the best images from the Patriots Week 2 game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, September 18, 2016.
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo takes the field to warm up before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) slaps hands with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) as he takes the field to warm up before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, left, speaks to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft before an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots fans hold up masks of quarterback Tom Brady before an NFL football game between the Patriots and the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. Brady is suspended for the first four games of the season. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, left, greets Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz on the sideline before an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) rushes for a touchdown against Miami Dolphins safety Reshad Jones (20) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) scores a touchdown ahead of a the tackle attempt from Miami Dolphins safety Reshad Jones (20) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola, left, celebrates his touchdown with Julian Edelman, right, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola, left, celebrates his touchdown with Julian Edelman, right, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola, left, celebrates his touchdown with teammates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) calls signals at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against the Miami Dolphins during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) celebrates his second touchdown pass against the Miami Dolphins with teammates during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (88) is tackled by Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard (25) and defensive end Terrence Fede (78) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (88) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) celebrates his second touchdown pass against the Miami Dolphins with teammates during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots defensive end Chris Long (95) hits Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) after he threw a pass during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins (91) dives for a tackle against Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) scores his second touchdown as he is tackled by Miami Dolphins cornerback Bobby McCain (28) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) flips a pass to Martellus Bennett (88) while in the grasp of Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (97) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Miami Dolphins linebacker Koa Misi (55) dives to tackle attempt on New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) talks to New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) passes over Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (97) and linebacker Jelani Jenkins (53) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
General view of Gillette Stadium before an NFL football game between the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) lands on his head after being tackled by New England Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan (26) and safety Patrick Chung (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots fans cheer during the first half of an NFL football game between the Patriots and the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins (91) runs from Miami Dolphins' Jay Ajayi (23) after he intercepted a pass during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, center, alongside head coach Bill Belichick, right, congratulates quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) after LeGarrette Blount's touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (88) rushes after catching a pass as Miami Dolphins defensive back Isa Abdul-Quddus (24) closes in during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) pitches the ball in front of Miami Dolphins safety Michael Thomas (31) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Miami Dolphins tight end Jordan Cameron, left, catches a touchdown pass in front of New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung (23) and Jamie Collins during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) scrambles away from Miami Dolphins defensive end Mario Williams (94) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) tries to elude Miami Dolphins defensive back Byron Maxwell (41) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, right, talks with quarterback Jacoby Brissett during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots defensive back Duron Harmon (30) intercepts a pass in the end zone intended for Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker, left, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots won 31-24. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake, left, gives his jersey to former Alabama teammate and New England Patriots cornerback Cyrus Jones (24) at midfield after an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) and wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) speak at midfield after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake, left, speaks to former Alabama teammate and New England Patriots cornerback Cyrus Jones (24) at midfield as Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) walks past after an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jelani Jenkins (53) and New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) speak at midfield after an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Miami Dolphins defensive end Julius Warmsley (73) and New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) speak at midfield after an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
End Zone Militia members congratulate New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Jabaal Sheard (93) and Miami Dolphins tight end Jordan Cameron (84) speak at midfield after an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
"Anytime any player goes down, it's tough, but unfortunately, that's part of this game. It's 100-percent injury rate. It's football. Everyone's just got to do their job better now," wide receiver Julian Edelman observed. "You're programmed, as a professional football player, that if something like this happens, you have to have a short memory. You can't dwell on it because you still have to try to win a game. That's how you deal with that. It's terrible, it's unfortunate. Jimmy was playing his tail off. I hope he's all right."
"Anytime you see your quarterback hurt, your heart kind of drops for a second," echoed fellow pass catcher Chris Hogan. "I hope it's nothing serious and he can make a speedy recovery. That's tough, but at the end of the day, you have to move on. Jacoby came in and I thought he played really well."
Rookie Jacoby Brissett closed out the first half, collected himself at halftime, and engineered a touchdown scoring drive of his own in the third quarter to give the Patriots a 31-3 lead.
"The guys did a great job of staying calm, welcoming me in," Brissett said at his locker afterward. "Offensive line did a good job. Receivers, backs did a good job of getting open and giving me time to find the open guy. I think we did a good job of finishing."
"Jacoby handled it like a professional… poised in the huddle," added Edelman.
"We were all business. When Jacoby came in," remarked left tackle Nate Solder, "he called the play, we got to the line [of scrimmage], and played it as we always do."
The Patriots defense again came up with a few big plays in critical situations to help out the offense while Garoppolo was in the game, but once he departed, they started to fade.
That 28-point lead evaporated to just seven with six minutes remaining.
"Well, we didn't step up," lamented safety/co-captain Devin McCourty, "but we were playing good football. We try not to concern ourselves with what's going on offensively. We keep the same mentality: go out, get the ball back, turnovers, three-and-outs. Whatever we were thinking didn't work, though. We did everything in the second half. Matty [Patricia, the defensive coordinator] called everything we've got [in the playbook], I just don't think we played well."
The rookie Brissett looked like he'd saved his best for last. Helped by LeGarrette Blount's 32 yards on the ground on New England's final possession, Brissett led the Patriots into Dolphins territory for a potential game-clinching 39-yard field goal attempt, but normally surefire kicker Stephen Gostkowski's try sailed wide right, giving Miami life with a minute to go.
The defense needed to return to its first-half form… and it did. Safety Duron Harmon intercepted Dolphin QB Ryan Tannehill in the end zone with nine seconds left to secure the victory.
"That's a good football team," declared defensive end Chris Long. "Obviously, they were able to score a lot of points in the second half. They're capable of playing fast and changing up the tempo. That puts stress on a defense. At the end of the day, we made a play to win a game, and that's the bottom line."
The main concerns now are, how long is Garoppolo out, and what do the Patriots do – especially this Thursday night when they host the Houston Texans – to provide depth at the quarterback position?
Backing up the backup's backup
Garoppolo is still being evaluated, as far as we know, and his health and future remain uncertain. If Brissett had been injured during the Miami game, wide receiver Julian Edelman, a college quarterback at Kent State, would likely have been the emergency QB.
"You know, I wasn't even thinking about that," Edelman maintained, and by the look on his face, he seemed genuinely like the thought had just occurred to him. "I was just thinking about what I could do to help Jacoby. By doing that, I mean just doing my job [as a wide receiver]."
He's obviously not a viable alternative going forward as Brissett's backup, however, assuming Garoppolo is out for any extended period.
It would have been nice if the Patriots already had a young quarterback on the practice squad, somewhat familiar with the offense and ready to be elevated to the active roster. But they don't, so, what's the next-best thing?
Here is one plausible option: Matt Cassel.
Tom Brady's former backup played here from 2005 through '08, the year he subbed for the entire season when Brady was injured. Cassel is currently Tennessee's backup QB. However, a trade for Cassel seems possible. The Titans have a young quarterback on their practice squad and could, in theory, elevate him to back up starter Marcus Mariota. Cassel's considerable experience in this Patriots offense would conceivably make it easier for him to learn the playbook on short notice.
Furthermore, Titans GM Jon Robinson served for many years in the Patriots scouting department, and he left of good terms, so, there's an established relationship between the two sides that makes this move a distinct possibility.
Brian Hoyer, another erstwhile Brady backup, is in a similar situation in Chicago, where the Bears have a young quarterback waiting on their practice squad. Whether or not the Bears would be willing to make a deal is another matter, but perhaps the recent joint training camp sessions between the two squads established some positive lines of communication between New England and Chicago.
In any event, this is really more of a short-term dilemma for Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Because after these next two games, Brady will be back.
