New England Patriots beat Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL season opener

Tom Brady threw for four touchdowns, three to favourite target Rob Gronkowski, as the New England Patriots began the NFL season with a 28-21 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Brady was available to start for the defending champions after the four-game suspension he was given by the NFL following the 'deflategate' scandal was overturned by a federal judge a week ago.

And, despite constant rain at Gillette Stadium, Brady duly produced a brilliant display to pick apart the Steelers' defence, setting a franchise record at one point with 19 consecutive completions.

He finished with 288 yards and now has 23 games with four or more touchdown passes, tied for third all-time with Brett Favre.

Brady opened the scoring early in the second quarter when he capped a 13-play, 90-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to All-Pro tight-end Gronkowski.

The pair were at it again later in the quarter, Brady connecting with Gronkowski from six yards out this time.

And it was 21-3 early in the third quarter when Brady found another tight end, Scott Chandler, from a yard out at the end of another efficient drive.

Pittsburgh hit back when Will Johnson went over from a yard out and they added a two-point conversion when Ben Roethlisberger hit Markus Wheaton.

With New England threatening again in the final quarter, running back Dion Lewis fumbled at the Steelers' one-yard line, but Gronkowski was there to recover and then grabbed his third touchdown catch of the night, making it 28-14 to the hosts.

Roethlisberger threw for 351 yards in a losing cause for the Steelers, 133 of them to Antonio Brown, who caught a consolation 11-yard touchdown pass to complete the scoring with seconds left.

Brady said afterwards: "It was a pretty special night so I was excited, our whole team was excited.

"It is always fun getting out there and getting the opportunity to go play and we took advantage of it, it was a good win. I thought our guys played hard."

Gronkowski said of Brady: "He was an unbelievable performer tonight, he's our leader. He's just a great player and it's fun playing with him." 

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