Prediction roundup
The last time a backup quarterback took over as the starter for the Patriots, as will be the case this weekend when Matt Cassel leads the team into the camera-shy Meadowlands, it was Sept. 30, 2001, a Sunday afternoon that saw New England earn its first win of the season in a 44-13 pasting of Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.
Here’s part of Nick Cafardo’s recap of that afternoon: “While statistics often don't tell the whole story, they told everything about yesterday's game. The Patriots had 177 yards rushing (4.5 a carry), led by Antowain Smith's 94 yards on 22 carries (he had two of the team's three rushing touchdowns) and exhibited run-blocking not seen here in some time.
“[Tom] Brady didn't turn the ball over, made a few key first downs, and just when it seemed as though the Colts might come back, Brady connected on two quick hits early in the fourth quarter (17 yards to David Patten, 38 yards to Antowain Smith) that led to the score that broke Indianapolis's back.”
Manning also threw three picks in that game, a significant reason why he remained winless (0-4) in Foxborough at the time. His QB rating for the day was a dismal 48.2. Brady, meanwhile, sported a 79.6 rating, a long way from the 117.2 we saw from him last season, but efficient enough to lead his team to the victory, a trend that continued for the remainder of the season.
Cassel isn’t going to be the Brady of 2007, but being the Brady of 2001 should be expected. Limit the picks. Make solid decisions. Don’t force the ball. Let the running game do its work. Watch Brett Favre huck the ball into double coverage. Don’t do the same. If he can’t manage to do that for most of the afternoon, he has no business being in the NFL, never mind starting for a team going for its 21st consecutive regular-season win.
To be fair, Cassel has it much easier than Brady did in ’01. The team surrounding him is superior in talent. No knock on David Patten and Troy Brown, but there was a reason Smith led the team in receiving that afternoon (58 yards). He gave New England a nice, quick option out of the backfield, which didn’t force Brady to do too much. Shouldn’t we expect similar patterns from Sammy Morris and Wes Welker on a slant?
The reason the Patriots are fine is because they still employ Randy Moss, Welker, Laurence Maroney, Matt Light, Mike Vrabel, Richard Seymour, Morris, Jerod Mayo, Bill Belichick, Stephen Gostkowski, Vince Wilfork, Tedy Bruschi, and Dan Koppen, among others. To chalk the season up because of the loss of Brady is somewhat foolhardy considering the history of teams that have remained successful – or more successful – with a backup at the helm. Granted, few quarterbacks are as talented or as important as Brady is to his team and the league, but this is not a death sentence.
Or maybe you too are in the Jeff George camp. Anyone? No?
We’re not looking to go that far back in time. We are, however, about to return to a long-forgotten era starting Sunday, when every Patriots contest will once again be surrounded by hope, rather than the pompous expectation that lingered in these parts weekly. It might have taken a debilitating injury, but can anyone make the argument that this season didn’t all of a sudden become profoundly more intriguing?
Who they're picking
Our roundup of national writers' picks in this week's Patriots-Jets showdown:
Jim McCabe, Boston Globe: Patriots. “We trust Brett Favre has been warned against any sort of "Lambeau Leap" at the Meadowlands. Touchdown or not, New York fans would more than likely try to pick his pocket and steal his helmet.”
Boston Globe staff: Three of five pick the Patriots.
Peter King, Sports Illustrated: Patriots 20, Jets 19. “Who'd have thought two weeks ago the big players in this game would be Matt Cassel and Jay Feely? Cassel, the Patriots quarterback, plays with enough poise to eke one out, and Feely, just signed to kick for the ailing Mike Nugent, almost spoils Cassel's first start in nine years.”
ESPN.com staff: Five of the eight who have made their picks go with the Jets.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Jets 20, Patriots 14. “The Tom Brady-less Pats begin their quest to win without him against Brett Favre and the Jets. The Jets' defense was impressive last week against the Dolphins and should cause all types of problems for Matt Cassel in his first start. The Jets get two big turnovers to get the victory.”
CBS Sports staff: Four of six pick the Patriots.
Cold, Hard, Football Facts: Patriots 19, Jets 17. “Brett Favre makes his first home start for the Jets, while Matt Cassel makes his first start . . . wait for it . . . since high school. Tom Brady’s understudy becomes the trigger man of an aerial attack that led the league in Yards Per Passing Attempt last season. But Cassel is expected to be more of a caretaker early on, and New England’s defense should be the difference.”
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Patriots 21, Jets 19. “The Jets are licking their chops and looking to contend for the AFC East title, armed with Favre and knowing that the Patriots aren't armed with Brady. Football, however, is a team game, and Favre isn't a huge advantage over Cassel in this game, as the Pats still have a better all-around defense than the Jets….The Pats will spoil Favre's first Jets home game, eking out a emotional win in their first game without Brady."
USA Today staff: Five of eight pick the Patriots.
Hank Gola, New York Daily News: Patriots. “Lost in the local euphoria over the Patriots' misfortune is that the Jets barely beat the Dolphins, who were 1-15 last year. They did some good things. They did some not-so-good things. While no one knows how Matt Cassel will perform, there is enough talent (Randy Moss for instance) and experience around him to get him through this, provided the Patriots can shorten the game by running the ball, get a big play from Moss and come up with a takeaway or two. Bill Belichick can dust off part of the game plan he undoubtedly had ready for Brett Favre in a potential Super Bowl last year and try to pressure him into mistakes. Favre, who was knocked out of the game the last time he played the Pats in '06, is still learning the Jets' offense and admitted last week that he had made a few improper protection calls that led to sacks. The Jets can certainly win this game, but there has always been something about the Patriots when they face adversity.”
Dave Blezow, New York Post: Jets. “The Pats have tons of talent from an 18-1 season all over the field and are still an upper-echelon team even without Brady. But this is the day the Jets put it all together, once and for all.”
Greg Cote, Miami Herald: Patriots 19, Jets 17. “NYJ offers the best possible instant gauge of the post-Brady Pats, because Brady owned the Planes, winning eight of past nine in series and seven straight in Jersey. Will Cassel continue that and extend NE's 20-game regular-season unbeaten streak? Yes. Upset! Brady-less Pats are still a playoff team (it says here) and their front-seven will rise up to lead a huge defensive effort.”
King Kaufman, Salon.com: Patriots. “If the Dolphins have improved as much as Jets fans have convinced themselves they have, the Jets are the team to beat in the AFC East with Brady out and Matt Cassel playing quarterback for the Patriots. That's about as Week 2-ish a set of assumptions as it's possible to make. What's the difference between the improved Dolphins and the Brady-less Pats? A lot. Still.”
Yahoo! staff: Two of three pick the Jets.
Peter Schrager, FoxSports.com: Patriots 24, Jets 10. “Get ready for the usual "Belichick/Mangini frosty embrace" camera shot at midfield immediately following this game. A game in which Matt Cassel should show us all what he's made of.”
Nancy Gay, San Francisco Chronicle: Jets. “The Matt Cassel era begins, and might not last long. Key stat: The Patriots' defense allowed the Chiefs to convert on 8 of 16 third down attempts last week.”
Sam Farmer, LA Times: Patriots. “With Matt Cassel now the No. 1 quarterback, there will be some drop-off at the position. But the Patriots didn't suddenly become a bad -- or even average -- team now that Tom Brady's hurt.”
Jerry Magee, San Diego Tribune: Jets. “Why the New Yorkers are not favored by more is a puzzlement. After all, it's Brett Favre against Matt Cassel.”
Puppet picks: Jets.
Our pick: Patriots 21, Jets 17. Four picks for Favre, one for Cassel. And last time I checked, Brady didn’t play defense.
Did you see FARVE barely beating the dolphins who were playing terrible? Who had no defense or offense? Ya i know Cassel and the pats going blow them out. 35-12.A little ironic drew bledso played 6 seasons on his first game of his 6th season he got injured. They got brady played 6 season on 1st game on 6th season got injured and had 4 Superbowl appearances. The pattern will continue so Cassel will get 6 super bowl titles.
bledsoe was injured in the second game of that season
Actually Bledsoe was in the second game of his 9th season, and Brady was in the first game of his 8th season.
The morons at ESPN continue to baffle me. Are they so anti-Patriots that they'd pick teams like the Jets and may be even the Dolphins to beat us? I like Favre...but that's all the Jets got going for them. We all know how the Packers did a few seasons ago when all they had was Brett Favre.
The Pats are a well rounded team. How many times have we seen when one position player goes down but the rest of the team picks up the tasks and gets it done. We're seeing the same signs of the 2001 season...hope the end will be the same too.
Nothing will be sweeter than rubbing it into those so called experts at ESPN!
The Birds of the Ocean say this one is for New England
My hope is for the Pats to lose...and continue to lose.
My fear is, I think Belichick and his coaching staff will adapt well enough to not only win this weekend with Cassel, but continue to win over the course of the season. They won't go 16-0 again, but, I could see 11-5.
Don't correct anyone that goes by username Bob Saget please. There is hidden comedy in many spots of that post.
Last time Favre played against the Pats was 2 yrs ago and the Pats won 35-0.
Keep Puppet Picks as a regular piece of the Friday column. Pats 21-17.
Farve's two TD passes against the Phins last week were the result of very poor coverage...especially the 2nd one, where he threw up a prayer into a sea of jerseys and his guy just happened to come down with the ball. He won't be so lucky against the Pats. Lost in the constant fawning over Farve's first win for NY is the fact that his performance would have stunk up the joint against a half-decent NFL team. The Jets are toast this week...
Oh Bob Saget!
Patriots defense will be extra motivated on Sunday and force Favre into a couple of key errors. Pats will run, run, run and setup Cassel for play action. Pats 23, Jets 13.
I really think the Pat's will have a good not great season with Brady out---but lets look at what the result will be if the Pat's aren't very good this season---our draft picks next year will be even better, which will enable us to continue the dynasty as #54, #37 etc. will likely retire.
Well the jets also had an impressive rushing and passing attack. yeah the jets did barely beat Miami. but the patriots also barley beat the chiefs who had a terrible season last year. so patriot fans "shut up" the jets are taking over the east this year. as the jets keep on improving and the patriots keep on not improving
Why all this importance on how long it's been since Cassel started? He essentially won the game last weekend whether he started it or not. Trust Bill. He'll have a week to prepare, knowing it's Cassell, not Brady at QB. The Jets are toast.
Anyone who thinks the pats lose this week, must be crazy!
MORON ALERT MORON ALERT MORON ALERT MORON ALERT
Well the jets also had an impressive rushing and passing attack. yeah the jets did barely beat Miami. but the patriots also barley beat the chiefs who had a terrible season last year. so patriot fans "shut up" the jets are taking over the east this year. as the jets keep on improving and the patriots keep on not improving
Posted by Casey September 12, 08 01:06 PM
MORON ALERT MORON ALERT MORON ALERT MORON ALERT
Sneak preview of Week 2 media hypocrisy - after week 1, Mike McCarthy and Brad Childress do not shake hands. On Sunday, Bill Belichick and Eric Mangidiot have perfunctory handshake. Which gets more media coverage?
I like the moron alert for the Casey post.... thats great! I'm crossing my fingers that the Patriots win this game... I think that Cassell needs all the wins under his belt in order to improve his confidence... LETS GO PATS!!!!
What's the line? Vegas seldon gets it wrong,
I'm pretty much guaranteeing a Jets win. There are plenty of homers on this board who think that a perrenial backup (Cassel) can play with a future Hall of Famer (Favre) and come away with a victory. And, I'm here to tell you that that will not happen. Not now, not next week, not this season.
Cassel was horrendous in the pre-season. He was pretty ok, however, in last week's game after taking over for an injured Brady. But, now he has to start and manage the entire game by himself and .. ummm .. he has no experience in doing that. Also, the Jets defense will make things more than a little uncomfortable for him.
I would've told you two weeks ago that the Jets had an opportunity to win this game even before Brady went down. But, now that he's not playing at all? Uhh .. Jets win 34-17.
The key word here is POISE, POISE POISE. If there's one thing I see in Cassel that Brady has plenty of, it's POISE. This one trait is the cornerstone. It's the one thing that allows a QB to make GOOD decisions in the pocket. It's the one thing that allows the QB to read the defense. It's the one thing that can buy the QB the essential few extra seconds to step into a throw and connect with the open guy. It's the one thing Favre doesn't have as much of and because of it, he choked in the playoffs last season throwing the worst pic I've seen him throw. Poise is the difference maker in my opinion.
Cassel has had Brady as a mentor for 3 years. He has been learning from the best in the business. He has the support of Brady and the advice of Brady. I say give Cassel some time to get in a rhythm and let him manage some games. He'll come around. So long as he doesn't get cranked in the ACL, we'll be aight.
Favre's a gunslinger, too many picks possible; Cassel (Belichik, rest of the Pats) will manage the game. The Pat's running game will be a key indicator of success; expect LOTS of Lamont Jordan vs. his old team. But, it will be close, and if it comes down to Belichik, the Darth Vader of the NFL, vs. Mangini (liked EC's "Mangidiot"!), always give the nod to Darth, er, Bill, the Red Auerbach of the NFL! Plus - you think the rest of the Pat's are sick and tired of being told their season's done now that Tom is on IR? They had something to prove last year - that the idiotic Spygate (started by Mang-idiot's ratting out Darth) didn't get them their SB rings. Now, they can prove that while Tom is the MVP, that the rest of 52 guys on the team had something to do with them being 18-1 last year, y'know! (BTW, any way to screen out deluded, moronic J-E-T-S fans like Casey? I mean, let's be honest: They even cheered at Jimmy Hoffa's Last Resting Place, a.k.a., the Meadowlands, last year when their OWN starting QB - Pennington - went down with an injury! That's says it all for me!! Classless!)
I think the game this Sunday could really go either way. A lot of people are focusing on just Favre and Cassel without looking at anything else. Folks who think the Pats will now go 8-8 will likely be proven fools, as the rest of the team is still loaded. However, people also keep saying how the Jets are a 4-12 team. That is incorrect. They were 4-12 last year, but their roster is vastly different this year, and actually pretty good if you look at it with a neutral view. Last year they were playing a 3-4 Defense with personnel (such as Jonathan Vilma and Hobson) who are decent players in a 4-3 but not suited to a 3-4. Also they had no true noseguard, etc. This year all that has been addressed. Their WRs and RBs are proficient, and their OL (Ferguson, Faneca, Mangold, etc.) has the potential to be really good. I think the Pats will still win the Division, but the Jets will be good and should take one of the Wild Card slots. And no, I am not a Jets fan.
Horrendous in the pre season? The pre season means NOTHING. Cassel came out of last week with a win. He got it done when he had to.
I've gotta say that the key word here is POISE. If there's one thing Cassel has that Brady has more than enough of, it's POISE. It's the cornerstone trait of excellent QB's. It's the one thing that allows the QB to read defenses. It's the one thing that allows the QB to create those couple extra seconds in the pocket to step up and hit the open guy. It's the one thing that allows the QB to make GOOD decisions. It's the one thing that allows QB's to maintain their composure and not buckle under pressure much like Favre did last season in the playoffs and much like Peyton Manning does when he gets flustered. POISE is the difference maker. It's the one thing that allows QB's to build CONFIDENCE.
Get Cassel in a rhythm and managing some games and watch him flourish. Pats roll 27-10.
Jets---Resemble Pee Wee Herman--Please I'm trying to score a touchdown and fail miserably.
Patriots----Resemble the Terminator--Search and Destroy the Enemy.
The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we bahave when we don't know what to do.
John Holt
Matt Kassel has two brothers - both pitching for MLB clubs at different levels; Matt was drafted by Billy Beane, incidently. He has a strong pedigree of smarts, game-sense, and athletic ability. While not likely to be up to the par of Brady, it's mental leprosy for J-E-T-S fans to think he will be any weaker than some of the following examples seen below. If the Pats lost Brady in 2001, it'd be a problem -- right now, it's just an issue to be dealt with. Wake up now before you embarass yourself Plane People.
I stumbled across an interesting-for-discussion list or back-ups or retreads that fared more than well (I won't even include Brady for Bledsoe) -- C&Ped from Washington Times, 9/8:
Jeff Hostetler taking over the Giants' offense in the next-to-last week of 1990 and steering them to the title after spending nearly six seasons as Phil Simms' caddy.
Remember Mike Kruczek, the D.C.-area kid who went to St. John's High School and Boston College, keeping the Steelers afloat as a rookie in 1976, going 6-0 at a starter in Terry Bradshaw's absence.
How about Earl Morrall's brilliant bullpen work for the 1968 Colts and perfect 1972 Dolphins.
How about Jim Plunkett filling in for broken-legged Dan Pastorini and helping the 1980 Raiders win the Super Bowl.
Heck, how about the underdog of underdogs, erstwhile Arenaballer Kurt Warner, bounding off the bench in 1999 and capturing every award in sight - not to mention a ring.
Erik Kramer (1991 Lions)
Vince Ferragamo (1979 Rams)
' Don Shula, who owes much to Supersub Morrall, put it best. "The mark of a good football team," he once said, "is what it can do under adverse conditions - and you can't get any more adverse than having a quarterback out there lying on the field."
The Pats have now won 20 straight regular-season games, an NFL record. In 2003 and 2004, they won 18 straight regular-season games, the second-longest streak ever. Many of the faces have changed between then and now, but this is a Serious Dynasty we've got here, folks. And now we'll find out if they're really, really, really good, if they can contend for the title without any more contributions from a guy who threw 50 touchdown passes last year.
New England doesn't have two 1,000-yard rushers like the 1972 Dolphins and 1976 Steelers. In fact, it didn't even have one last season. The Patriots' defense is among the best in the league - it was fourth in points allowed in 2007 - but it's certainly not as stifling as the Steel Curtain or the No Names (who yielded 171 points in 14 games in 1972, the equivalent of 195 over today's 16-game schedule).
Last time I checked there were 10 other players on that offense. Cassell only missed five passes last week. And as for barely beating the chiefs; how would you feel if your best player, friend, and leader for the past 8 years went down for the year. I think they might have been a little distracted. They will be much more prepared for the jets. Pats win 35-10!
tThis game to me is a must win and a lot of the victory if it comes is going to rely on Bill Belicheck exerting his genious as the NFL coach that he is. In the past games against the Jets I thought the game plan was rather poor, we won but not by the pounding I would have anticipated. mangini is a twerp who has been a thorn in Bills side for 2 years and now I think it is time for the King of coaches to show this little Pawn where to get off. Cotchery and coles have got to be covered better than they have been as in the past games they have burned us for some big palys. To me i thinjk that there is a lot on the line in this game as far as momentum and making a statement. if all goes well we will beat the Jets by a comfortable margin. If we lose it is just going to slow Cassels achievement in the confindence and moxie he will need to lead this team. GO PATS!!!!
What's all this talk about your Patriot dynasty...last I checked you did not win in the past 3 superbowls and your chances this year just went down the toilet (5-2 vegas odds reduced now to 1-20)
I am a life-long Pats fan who has had to live among Jets & Giants fans for the last 10 years. During the off season, they are, almost, ok to be around. This week though, Jets fans are acting even weirder than normal. They know they'll probably loose this one and when they do the legend of Favre will be crushed along with their hopes and dreams of a half way decent team.
Pats by 10.
Cassel will be fine. Not perfect by any means, but he'll get the job done. He'll protect the ball, let the defense give the Pats decent field position, kick some field goals, take what's there.
The Jests on the other hand......Favre will be expected to win, and he's not Favre from 6-7 years ago. The Pats defense will force Favre into taking chances and getting burned. After a couple of rough sacks and a pick or two by Favre, the 'loyal' NY fans will be calling for Vinny Testeverde to replace him.
Ha, leave it to a Jets fan to mangle vegas odds.
Schools open, get there early
Nothing has baffled me more over the past week than the question "Can Belichick coach? Now we'll find out." Wow!!!!!! What am I missing here?
Right, let's talk about the Jets Dynasy!
1. Cassell can't play with Farve/?? What a joke. they wont be on the field at the same time.
2. What if the Pats lost Brady in 2001? Last I remember Bledsoe came in and WON a playoff when Brady went down. I love how many people forget that.
3. I think the Jets might win and if they don't the national media will turn their attention to the Bills as the TRUE threat to the AFC east. The Bills honestly scare me more but even without Brady the Pats are the most talented in the division.
4. Does anyone else think the Jets should have kept Pennington? I honestly do.
Hey PullingMyHairOut, put down the crack pipe, I think you've had your limit! What exactly does, "I'm pretty much guaranteeing a Jets win" mean? Are you going to buy a Cassel jersey when the Jets loose? I didn't think so. Someone above had a good point, how good were the Packers when they only had Favre? Not very. The Pats are talented on all fronts, in all situations, on both sides of the ball, in all weather, and on all surfaces. Inside, outside, and in circumstances they haven't even thought of. I expect Jordan will get 70 yrds. on the ground by himself, and won't even be the rushing leader! I find it funny how quickly so many talking heads dismiss the sheer talent on the Patriot roster; talk about over-payed staff! What exactly are the Jets going to beat them with? I know there were some rule changes in the off season, but I'm pretty sure guns are still not allowed on the field.
bob saget is wrong, bledsoe was injured in the second game of 2001. not the first, his whole theory is blown up now. bob saget, you funny man!
Brady's defining moment was the San Diego game two weeks later. Brady needed two scores to tie the game, and he squeaked out two scores. Then he put together the winning drive in overtime.
Patriots 42 - Jets 6
Go Pats!
Look for the Marino effect here.
The Dolphins in 82 lacked a lights-out QB and came within John Riggins' run of a WC. For all of Marino's exploits, they have never been so close again.
Brady is better than Marino, but the change in focus his injury has wrought will benefit the team in the long run, even when Tom Brady--best ever--returns.
Up until the 2008 season we all enjoyed the positive tension that connected each new season with the one before it. For me the super bowl neurosis was very much a part of this 2008 season. The "injury" has obliterated 2007 and personally I can look at the Patriots as a pro team who can and will perform at a very high level. Paraphrasing Carfardo who said it best 'Casell doesn't need to be Tom Brady 2007, he does need to be Brady 2001'...Patriots will take their division...
loose=not tight
you want "lose=nopt win"
Two things. Calling this week a must win is a little far fetched. Yes it would be great for motivation, and giving Cassel a boost in confidence. But its only week 2. And as for "pulling my hair out" comment. I dont know how you can say you guarantee a jets win. The jets got run over by a pot head last week. If you think our 5 headed running monster wont just destroy your the jets your wasted. And all Cassell has to do is stay calm and just go with the flow. The patriots have a 51-2 odds in player vs player. Give them farve, and faneca. Other then that pats win 35-10. Go pats!!
Others have already pointed out the ESPN airheads have been waiving their pom poms for the Jets. To which I say: GOOD!
NE 23, NYJ 13.
Jets #4 (not Bobby Orr) is finally going to see what the AFC East defense looks like from the very top of the heap.....And please keep throwing off your back foot as it will add a wonderful dimension to my viewing enjoyment....Pats by 12
I'm a football fan stuck in in the center of Ohio. No NFL teams here to cheer for, just the Browns, Bengals and the Buckeyes. I met 12 year old today wearing a Tom Brady shirt and looking a little sad/ I spoe to him for a minute and he was said he felt bad for Tom, but not the Pats. He knows they're too good and will do just fine this weekend. They'll do it as a team and for Tom. I agree!!
pats win easy. here's why
the pats are a good team (even without brady)
the J-E-T-S are not (even with farve)
PATS 20- j-e-t-s 6
44-13 Pats. 3 Def/Spec Teams tuddy's, 1 Cassel Tuddy, +1.
Big game from the defense.
You know I am a die hard Patriots fan through and through. All week I have heard the comments that the "Pats" season is over and the other 3 division rivals will step up. Come on now, give me a break. No one will really know what Matt Cassel is made of or who he really is until he starts on Sunday. But as for me, I'm optimistic and really believe the Pats will blow the Jets out. Sure, Cassel will feel the pressure of his very first NFL start; but he should do fine considering he played a very good game for the 3.5 quarters in which he was forced to come in relief of Brady. Consider this, Cassel backed up 2 hiesman trophy winners at USC. If he had played at any other college, he would have most definately started considering the talent that USC has produced over the last decade. All I have heard is the pressure Cassel will face. I really think Favre will have more pressure on him playing for the first time in green and white in front of the home town crowd and having to prove that their investment in him was worth it. What does Cassel really have to prove other than he is a worth while investment at back-up ready to come in and play. In the past, Belichick has been a wizard of sorts and so has the front office with the Pats at attracting talent, motivation, and keeping talent in the right spots. Everyone seems to forget that Brady was a late round pick that was past up by many teams and forced to come in relief of an injured Bledsoe in 2001. We all know what happened that season. Can you say "Super Bowl Win". It will be interesting to see how Cassel really does this season and if he does well and the "Pats" go far in the playoffs and perhaps win another Super Bowl. There will be something to talk about next season come training camp in Foxboro. If that happens, it could create some interesting competition between Brady and Cassel. Leave it to the New England coaching staff. They did not go out and sign a QB this week and I am sure they know why they didn't. Could it be perhaps that they see something in this Mr. Cassel whom no one really knows what he is made of. I think you have your answer already from them not signing a QB this week. Sunday will tell the tale and we will find out. I have a hunch that the Patriots will blow the Jets out even with Favre at the helm and my prediction is 31 to 13 Patriots. I also predict that the "Pats" will do just the contrary to what most experts are thinking on playing conservative. I think they will play conservative for one quarter so Cassel's confidence will build and he will get those starting "jitters" out and then open their offensive arsenal up. Last week they stayed conservative. I don't see that happening this week.
Back and forth, back and forth. Patriots. Jets. Patriots. Jets. All I can say is that I can't remember laughing so hard when I saw that Miami writer call them "the Planes". Maybe I'm easily amused, but I just thought that was hilarious.
don' t forgot .....belicheat still there , still spygate there as nobody notice it ....jets will be shot down ...lol ....let s go pats !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 out of 3 Yahoo "experts" pick the Jets.
Aren't they the same numbskulls who left $33/share on the table and now are hovering around $19 per?
Obviously their synapes are not fully firing off......
How come no one can spell LOSE? It's not LOOSE, as in "Your screws are loose."
One thing's for sure; the comment about this season becoming more interesting is so right on...can you imagine how dull this whole board would be if not for Brady being out? It would be one long list of by just how many points the Patriots would bury the Jets by. As it is, there's an actual debate here. I for one appreciate it. My pick; While the game's a lot closer without Brady, the Pats still have more than enough to succeed(and this coming from neither a Pats or Jets fan...I'm a Dolphins fan. I know, feel badly for me)...Patriots 24, Jets 17...but it's apt to be as off as any.
Will the owner of the game-day jersey that Matt Cassel wore when playing for USC please contact CollegeJersey.com - - Thank you.
Pats create Perfection in a season that is anything but Perfect for the fans.
Wow! Those crickets are loud! It sure is quiet on the blog when loud mouth New York fans don't have any trash to talk! Even with Brady out, an event that gave the entire New York football fanbase a golden opportunity to once again prove how utterly classless they are by celebrating his misfortune, the Jets proved to be typically incompetent! I know, it's surely must be due to Tom Brady watching all that cheater film from last year and signaling calls onto the field to Matt
Cassell. Yea, that's it!
//I'm pretty much guaranteeing a Jets win.//
That worked out well.
MORON MORON MORON alert!!!
Sorry Casey you deserved that
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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