During the game, the Patriots wore Color Rush uniforms that have their traditional colors on them. With Tom Brady still in his third game of suspension and Jimmy Garoppolo injured, the Patriots started their backup quarterback, Jacoby Brissett. The Houston Texans drove 36-yards to their own 47 on their second drive, but were forced to punt. The Patriots responded by driving 74-yards to their own 6, but the drive stalled, however, and the Patriots settled for a 24-yard field goal by placekicker Stephen Gostkowski and the early 3-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Kickoff returner Charles James II returned the ensuing kickoff 18-yards to the Texans 17 and fumbled, but was ruled down by contact. The Patriots challenged and the ruling was changed to Brandon Bolden forcing a fumble and Harmon recovering for the Patriots at the Houston 22-yard line. After a false start penalty on offensive tackle Marcus Cannon. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett ran in a 27-yard touchdown, increasing the lead to 10-0. The Texans managed to reach midfield on their next drive, but after an illegal formation penalty moved them 5-yards back, linebacker Jamie Collins intercepted quarterback Brock Osweiler and returned it 18-yards to the Texans 43. The Texans defense clamped down, forced a punt and moved the ball on their next drive, but were forced to punt. Late in the half, the Texans once again drove to midfield, but were once again forced to punt. The Patriots then ran out the clock and took a 10-0 lead to the locker room. The Patriots marched 71 yards in 13 plays to the Texans' 7-yard line on the opening drive of the second half, but the Houston defense kept them out of the end zone, and Gostkowski kicked a 25-yard field goal for a 13-0 lead. Once again, the Texans lost a fumble on the kickoff; this time, Tyler Ervin was stripped by Nate Ebner with Jordan Richards recovering at the Patriots' 21. Six plays later, Blount scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 20-0 late in the third quarter. Running back Tyler Ervin returned the kick 21-yards to the Texans 23. The Texans drove 44-yards to the Patriots 36-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs early in the fourth quarter, when Osweiler threw an incomplete pass on 4th-and-4. Later, Danny Amendola returned a punt 10-yards to the Patriots 47. Two plays later, Blount burst through for a 41-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 27-0. The Texans turned the ball over on downs two more times before running out the clock to end the game. In all, the Patriots forced three turnovers and allowed zero points. With the win the Patriots improved to a record of 3-0.. How many Patriots team members were unable to play?