By: Scott Jackson, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
After dropping the ball last week, the report card is back.  Unfortunately the Patriots dropped the ball this week, losing to Houston 34-27.
Quarterbacks:
Tom Brady didn’t look like a man with three broken ribs.  He did, however, look like the game didn’t matter, coughing up an interception that set-up Houston’s winning score.  Backup Brian Hoyer played well; until the final drive when he couldn’t complete a pass.
My grade: C-

Runningbacks:
No Laurence Maroney.  No problem.  Future Hall of Famer Fred Taylor scored two touchdowns.  BenJarvus Green-Ellis set-up Taylor’s first score with a big block.  But the group didn’t do a great job overall, only gaining 64 yards on the ground.  And Taylor did fumble the ball in his endzone, but that was mostly the fault of the offensive line.
My grade: C-
Receivers/Tight Ends:
Wes Welker will be missed.  But Julian Edelman filled in well, catching ten passes for 103 yards (it’s weird seeing a #11 out there who can run, isn’t it?).  Despite not scoring, Randy Moss had a good game, finishing with 75 yards.  And the tight ends stepped up with Welker out, catching everything thrown their way.
My grade: B
Offensive Line:
An offensive line has two jobs.  The first is [...]