FOXBORO -- Underachieving first-round (2006) pick Laurence Maroney scored his first touchdown since Super Bowl XLII when he snowshoed 45 yards to the end zone behind a key block by rookie tackle Sebastian Vollmer, giving the Patriots a 7-0, first-quarter lead over Tennessee.

Coming into the game, Maroney had gained a total of 99 yards on 32 attempts, an average of 3.1 per carry.

He played in only three games last season because of a shoulder injury.

-- JIM DONALDSON