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Pats' Cassel Has Successful Debut

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 15, 2008

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Life without Tom Brady might not be so bad for New England after all.
Matt Cassel was efficient running the offense in his first NFL start, taking over for the injured quarterback and leading the Patriots over Brett Favre and the New York Jets 19-10 on Sunday.

"I thought Matt did a good job," Coach Bill Belichick said. "It wasn't perfect. We had some rough spots. He did a good job of making good decisions. He didn't put us in any bad situations and made some good positive plays. I thought he managed the game well."

Cassel, who hadn't started at any level since his senior year of high school, was 16 of 23 for 165 yards, Sammy Morris ran for a touchdown and Stephen Gostkowski kicked four field goals.

"At the end of the day, you've got to have more points than the other team and that's what we did, so I'm satisfied," Cassel said. "I didn't have too many butterflies going out. I've been in the system for four years, so I'm confident I know I can run it."

The Jets, slight favorites going in, and Patriots receiver Randy Moss said New England was still the team to beat even without Brady, who was lost for the season last Sunday when he injured his left knee against Kansas City.

The Patriots (2-0) then showed why, ruining the Jets' home opener and Favre's first regular-season home start for New York.

"We knew we had to play our best football to win," Favre said, "and we weren't able to do that."

New England won its 21st straight regular-season game, and beat the Jets for the eighth straight time at the Meadowlands.

Favre went 18 of 26 for 181 yards and a TD for the Jets (1-1), but the Patriots took advantage of a big mistake by the veteran.

With the Jets facing a third-and-22 from their 11, Favre ran out of the pocket to his left and flung a pass to Chansi Stuckey for 28 yards. Three plays later, though, Favre made a poor decision, hanging a pass intended for Chris Baker that was easily picked off by Brandon Meriweather. It was Favre's first interception with the Jets.

"I just underthrew it," Favre said. "I saw the guy and maybe I got a little greedy."

On third-and-9 from the 30, Cassel threw a screen to Kevin Faulk, who got a few blocks and got down to the 8. Three plays later, Morris leaped over the pile for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 13-3.

Gostkowski added a 28-yard field goal with 17 seconds left in the third quarter.

Favre led the Jets back into it, connecting with Stuckey for a 2-yard touchdown with 10:18 left, but Gostkowski kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 19-10 as the Patriots ticked 5 minutes off the clock.

The Jets went three-and-out on their next possession, and the Patriots ran out the clock to seal it.

NE-FG Gostkowski 21, 3:00.

Second Quarter

NE-FG Gostkowski 37, 13:16.

NYJ-FG Feely 21, 7:28.

Third Quarter

NE-Morris 1 run (Gostkowski kick), 6:20.

NE-FG Gostkowski 28, :17.

Fourth Quarter

NYJ-Stuckey 2 pass from Favre (Feely kick), 10:18.

NE-FG Gostkowski 27, 5:18.

A-78,554

RUSHING-New England, Jordan 11-62, Maroney 8-16, Faulk 3-16, Cassel 2-7, Evans 1-3, Morris 8-0. N.Y. Jets, Jones 17-70, Washington 2-28, Favre 2-6.

PASSING-New England, Cassel 16-23-0-165. N.Y. Jets, Favre 18-26-1-181.

RECEIVING-New England, Welker 7-72, Faulk 4-50, Moss 2-22, Morris 2-7, D.Thomas 1-14. N.Y. Jets, Stuckey 4-43, Washington 4-22, Coles 3-72, Jones 2-5, Franks 2-(minus 4), Cotchery 1-20, Keller 1-19, Richardson 1-4.

MISSED FIELD GOAL-N.Y. Jets, Feely 31 (WR).

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