Cincinnati Bengals vs New England Patriots Box Score on Sep 12, 2010

Tom Brady set about earning his big new contract with 258 yards and three touchdowns to lead the New England Patriots to a 38-24 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener on Sunday.

Wes Welker made his return from a knee injury with a pair of touchdown catches and Brandon Tate returned a kickoff for a touchdown for the Patriots, who have won seven consecutive home openers.

Brady, who signed a four-year extension that could pay him as much as $18 million per season earlier in the week, found his favorite target Welker on New England’s first drive for a 9-yard score.

Stephen Gostkowski added a 32-yard field goal later in the first and Brady found Welker again with 8:58 left in the half, hitting him over the middle to push it to 17-0.

The Patriots’ defense got into the act next when Gary Guyton intercepted Carson Palmer’s pass and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown.

Tate took some more wind out of the Bengals when he opened the second half with a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that extended the edge to 31-3.

Cincinnati got back into it with a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, but Brady found rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski midway through the fourth for another touchdown to make it a three-score game.