Rookie Jacoby Brissett rushes for TD, delivers ball to Bill Belichick

— -- FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Rookie Jacoby Brissett rushed for a 27-yard touchdown in the first quarter of the New England Patriots' 27-0 win against the Houston Texans on Thursday night, and personally delivered the football to coach Bill Belichick on the sideline after the play.

It was the longest rushing touchdown by a Patriots quarterback since Steve Grogan scampered 41 yards for a score against the New York Jets on Oct. 18, 1976. Since 2001, the longest rush by a Patriots quarterback was 22 yards.

Thursday's touchdown helped the Patriots capitalize on good field position that was created when running back Brandon Bolden forced a fumble on a Charles James kickoff return that was recovered by safety Duron Harmon at Houston's 22-yard line.

A false start penalty on right tackle Marcus Cannon pushed the Patriots back to the 27, and that's when Brissett took off. He tucked the ball quickly after the snap, as it appeared to be a designed run off the right side. He could have gone out of bounds near the end of the run, but instead lowered his shoulder and powered his way into the end zone.

Brissett's TD cost one Las Vegas sportsbook a five-figure loss.

The QB was offered at 30-1 to score the game's first touchdown at MGM's sportsbooks. Jay Rood, MGM vice president of race and sports, told ESPN his shop took enough bets on Brissett to cause the house a five-figure loss.

"Let's just say we were not rooting for that," Rood said.

In his college career, which was split between Florida (2011-2012) and NC State (2014-2015), Brissett totaled 283 rushes for 902 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Brissett is filling in for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo and suspended Tom Brady.

The Patriots opened as 2.5-point underdogs earlier in the week at some books. The line moved in New England's favor leading up to kickoff and ended up closing at Patriots -1 at the MGM and pick 'em at other sportsbooks.

Despite the line movement toward the Patriots, the majority of the money bet was on the visiting Texans. At William Hill's Nevada sportsbook, 61 percent of the money bet on the game was on the Texans. Sportsbook operator CG Technology and MGM reported similar action on Houston.

"If Pats hold on, all is good," Rood said before the game went final.

Information from ESPN's David Purdum was used in this report.