FOXBORO, Mass. — Tom Brady can’t play for the New England Patriots until Week 5, but his replacement is doing a pretty admirable impersonation.
Patriots backup Jimmy Garoppolo came out firing Sunday against the Miami Dolphins in the team’s home opener at Gillette Stadium, building on last Sunday’s solid debut with an excellent first quarter.
Garoppolo led New England to touchdowns on each of its first two drives, hitting wide receiver Danny Amendola with a 12-yard touchdown pass and hooking up with tight end Martellus Bennett for a 20-yard score. He started the game 9 of 10 with 136 yards and two touchdown passes.
.@JimmyG_10 to @DannyAmendola…
END ZONE! #MIAvsNE https://t.co/xTX6aTG14T
— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2016
Perfect route from @MartysaurusRex.
Perfect pass from @JimmyG_10.Touchdown, @Patriots! #MIAvsNE https://t.co/LRa58Jskpb
— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2016
Garoppolo added a third TD in the second quarter on a 10-yard strike to Amendola to give him three first-half touchdowns on 195 yards passing.
TDx3 for @JimmyG_10!
What a pass! #Patriots #MIAvsNE https://t.co/1Q1oOFFmzU
— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2016
Early in the season is the perfect time for hot takes, especially given Garoppolo’s odd situation replacing one of the greatest QBs ever. And the hot takes certainly were flying Sunday. Here are a few of the best after Jimmy G’s torrid start:
Jimmy Garoppolo has done something Tom Brady hasn't done in his last 51 games: throw two touchdown passes in the first quarter.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 18, 2016
Garoppolo is getting rich.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/WhitlockJason/status/777563719479889920
https://twitter.com/WhitlockJason/status/777564484399353856
https://twitter.com/Marc_Bertrand/status/777563762471632896
Which team do you think will sign Tom Brady when he becomes a free agent
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) September 18, 2016
Quarterback controversy in New England.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) September 18, 2016
I dont want to get a head of myself but Garappolo has a 25% better career winning percentege then Tom Brady and 2 fewer superbowl losses
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) September 18, 2016
We understand some of these tweets are tongue-in-cheek (especially the last one), as nobody actually expects Garoppolo to take Brady’s job when he comes back from his four-game suspension (… Right??). But Jimmy G certainly is making Patriots fans feel good about the future of the franchise right now.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
