FOXBOROUGH -- Before New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett earned his first career win Thursday night in a 27-0 victory over the Houston Texans, Martellus Bennett had already seen a change in the rookie quarterback.

It was not something Brissett said that marked the change -- it was barely something he did. But Bennett looked at Brissett, and knew that the rookie was ready.

"He was in a meeting today, and now he's the starting quarterback and all of a sudden he sits with his legs crossed," Bennett said. "I'm like 'alright, bro, it's one week and now you're crossing your legs at meetings like a veteran quarterback.'"

"So I called him out on it. And he's like, 'I always sit like this.' And I'm like, 'No you don't, bro.' Drinking coffee and sitting with your legs crossed, that's what starting quarterbacks do."

Brissett did things a little differently than Patriots starting quarterbacks typically do things, however. He went 11-for-19 passing on the day with 103 yards, no passing touchdowns and no interceptions. Instead, he picked up a rushing touchdown, along with 48 yards on eight carries.

Since 2013, Patriots starting quarterbacks have been held without a passing touchdown just five times, and they only won one of those games, per Pro Football Reference. That one win was a playoff game against the Colts in January of 2014, when LeGarrette Blount and Stevan Ridley combined for six rushing touchdowns.

Brissett's 48 rushing yards Thursday night, meanwhile, are the second most by a Patriots quarterback since the Tom Brady era began. The most in that time span came from Matt Cassel in 2008, when he carried the ball eight times for 62 yards in a loss to the Jets.

The rushing yards were not a result of Brissett scrambling in the face of pressure, however. They were designed runs, including a few option plays, designed to utilize some of Brissett's athleticism. On a 27-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, Brissett faked a handoff and took off in wide open space to his right, where he followed Malcolm Mitchell's block into the end zone.

It was a special moment for Brissett, who likely did not anticipate playing this season -- let alone so soon in the year. He gave the ball to Bill Belichick after the play, who gave it back to him after the game for his trophy case.

"I was supposed to give (Belichick) the ball," Brissett said. "Make sure they don't get it. Make sure we get it. So I gave it to him."

Making sure the opposing defense did not get the ball was a big part of the way Brissett played Thursday night. There were very few throws over the middle of the field, as he threw the ball mostly to the flats and on deep routes by the sideline. The third-round pick out of NC State had a tendency to overthrow the ball instead of leaving it short, which meant only his receiver could get to the passes.

Eight of Brissett's 28 pass attempts this season have been to receivers who were already behind the line of scrimmage. He is 7-for-8 on those passes, while he is 10-of-20 on all passes past the line of scrimmage.

Still, perhaps the most important stat in regards to him passing the ball, is that he did not throw an interception in the game. Taking care of the ball is obviously important to the Patriots, as neither Garoppolo or Brissett have been picked off through three weeks of the season.

It's that poise under the spotlights that made Brissett's performance so impressive. He was thrust into the middle of his first NFL game not even a week ago, and only had a few days to prepare for a defense that featured one of the best defensive players in the league in JJ Watt. Brissett could have tried to do too much. Instead, he did what he needed to do to get the win -- hand the ball off and take the safe option.

Brissett did not move himself ahead of Jimmy Garoppolo on the depth chart with this win. He did not have people talking about his trade value, or if it was time for New England to move on from Tom Brady. But he got a win, a touchdown and a game ball to take home for his effort.

Not bad, for a rookie.