After sitting out the first four weeks of the season due to a suspension, Tom Brady played his first game of 2016 on Sunday. He did pretty well.
The final line: 28 of 40, 406 yards, three touchdowns, no picks in a 33-13 victory. The poor Browns had no chance.
His day started -- how else -- with a quick out to Julian Edelman:
Tom Brady's first pass of 2016... Complete to @Edelman11! #NEvsCLEhttps://t.co/4pAkkqpvCg
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2016
It continued with him finding another familiar target over the middle, and then again on a crossing route to get down to the goal line.
Brady.
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2016
Gronk.
Move The Sticks! #NEvsCLEhttps://t.co/kOqyqCur3g
NOPE.
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2016
You're just not gonna stop GRONK. #NEvsCLEhttps://t.co/lKcSRK5hCo
LeGarrette Blount would subsequently run the ball in for a score. Later in the first quarter, Brady found Martellus Bennett for the first of THREE touchdowns the two connected on during the game.
Tom Brady to @MartysaurusRex...
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2016
And he WALKS into the end zone! #NEvsCLEhttps://t.co/b2kIYsqh0l
Before hitting Bennett again, Brady hooked up with Chris Hogan on a 43-yard deep ball.
Beautiful throw.
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2016
Beautiful catch.
Tom Brady finds Chris Hogan for a 43-yard gain. #NEvsCLEhttps://t.co/k7vUsBG7rf
At halftime, he was 18 of 25 for 271 yards and two scores. That was good for a 133.9 passer rating.
After the break, it was more of the same. Bennett couldn't have been more wide-open for his third score of the day.
Brady to Marty B.
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2016
Brady to Marty B.
Brady to Marty B.
All. Day. Long. #Patriots#NEvsCLEhttps://t.co/WpQTl8kkV7
He didn't have to do much else after that, and actually exited the game with just over four minutes left, giving way to Jimmy Garoppolo. The Pats cruised to the victory, the 250th of Bill Belichick's career (including playoffs). All in all, it was a pretty good day for New England.