Green Bay Packers: Top 5 things to watch against Patriots

What started as a t-shirt was continued as a chant at Gilette Stadium in the team’s preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers: “Free Brady!” “The pace of the offense, we were moving pretty well, moving the ball up the field”. With a four-game suspension looming over quarterback Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick will have to decide which is more important: Getting his backup prepared for a possible stint as the starter, or showing his support for the suspended Super Bowl MVP.

Perhaps the number that stood out the most at game’s end was that Garoppolo was sacked seven times playing behind an offensive line that featured several newcomers and never included left tackle Nate Solder, right tackle Sebastian Vollmer or center Bryan Stork. Alonzo Harris ran for a 25-yard touchdown for the 2014 NFC North winners.

Last month, Goodell upheld Bradys suspension, concluding he “knew about, approved of, consented to, and provided inducements and rewards” to support a scheme in which a Patriots employee deflated balls before the Patriots beat the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 in the January 18 AFC championship game. The signal caller has missed practice this week to attend hearings stemming from his Deflategate legal issue against the NFL. When the Patriots huddled and slowed things down, Garoppolo had a tough time with the heat. He was intercepted in the second half by LaDarius Gunter, who returned it 28 yards to the Packers 29.

Demonstrating his lethal extend-the-play ability lost to a strained calf for the overtime catastrophe in Seattle and three games before that, Rodgers bounced in and around the pocket like he had the freshest legs on the field.

However, the Packers scored 13 straight points in the second half and held the Patriots scoreless to take the 22-11 win.

Garoppolo came out of the gate looking strong, demonstrating his arm strength and mobility during the first half. He received a huge ovation. Brady’s first pass was badly overthrown, and his second went through Josh Boyce’s hands. He’s a former Rugby League star, and Saturday will be the first time he takes an NFL snap in any capacity after spending training camp with the 49ers learning how to play the position, learning how to handle the NFL with pads on and learning how to pass block.

Although no one will confuse what he did in nearly three full quarters against the Packers with Tom Brady, New England’s coaching staff should feel more confident about what it can do on offense without Brady. Brees participated in pregame drills, but remained on the sideline after the opening kickoff.

Luke McCown started, and by the time New Orleans recorded its initial first down Baltimore led 17-0. The team finishes the preseason against the New York Giants in what has become a yearly matchup for the teams.

That was it for Brady on Thursday ” two series, one-for-four passing for 10 yards. And yes, he threw an interception per AL.com.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and the New York Jets try to put a tumultuous few days behind them when they play at Detroit. Manziel ran 12 yards for a score in the second. He finished 20-for-30 for 159 yards, and he threw one interception in the third quarter.