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Seems obvious the o-line still can't pass protect.
Seems obvious Cassel can't hit the open receiver even when the O-line does manage to pass protect. Cassel couldn't even hit guys five yards away and wide open more than once!
Seems obvious the defense QUIT when it realized the QB can't pass and the O-line can't block.
Seems obvious that assistant coaches still can't manage minor adjustments during the game, much less major adjustments.
Seems obvious the Pats show up with a game-plan and personell and stick to it no matter what even when the other team has their number.
Seems obvious in the last three losses going back years now that the team quit on BB and Brady. They deserve/deserved better.
Seems obvious we will soon see all the aging veterans find their way to IR with semi-fake injuries to save themselves for next year.
Seems obvious BB should take the year off and save his strength and sanity for next year; his players certainly look like they will be...
And Ellis Hobbs, you showed up but your team didn't! This wasn't a basic loss; you didn't just lose, you looked really bad doing it. Your team deserved all the boos the fans could muster! Get the message or get out!
This team better make some bold moves soon or I am looking for something to do on Sundays for the first time in about 20 years...one thing to lose; another thing to be ugly doing it.
The fans are spoiled though; they can't cheer that loud when our defense is on the field but can apparently muster boos (as truly deserved as they were).
I suspect this team will rally for one nice win and then pack it in for the season. Hopefully I'm wrong and some character people will take over.
Willie McGinnest and Brian Cox would never stand for such a performance. Who is the new locker-room enforcer on this team?!!?!?!

RELAX! It's one loss! Sure it was a very painful loss to a pathethic team, but one loss isn't a reason to panic and think the season is lost.

When Tom Brady went down for the year, everybody knew the Patriots weren't going to be the same team. You don't just remove maybe the best quarterback of all time, and expect the team won't miss a beat. The reality is the other pieces of the team are good enough to make a run at winning the division and get a spot in the playoffs where anything can happen. Its a long season, be patient. This team has been the most consistent and successful franchise this decade.

In Bill we trust.

Notimpressedatall,
The Patriots basically lost the game on four plays--all from the "Wildcat" formation--in which the Dolphins scored four touchdowns. The Patriots had a touchdown "stolen" from them by a whistle-happy ref. If the Dolphins hadn't gameplanned the unusual play and executed it perfectly (and the ref hadn't made the bad call), they wouldn't have won. Basically, Belichick was out-coached. I do not want to take away from the poor defensive play by the Patriots and the poor effort by the offensive line, but I want to point out that the Dolphins won this game more than the Patriots lost it, if that makes any sense.
Cassell did not lose this game, and that is what the Patriots are asking him to do (or not do). Yes, he didn't win the game, but he didn't lose it, either. It was the defense that couldn't stop the "Wildcat" play. And, as I said above, it was that play alone (and the bad call from the ref) that won the game for the Dolphins. Likely, the Patriots would have won 20-10 or maybe 23-13 if not for that.
Step away from the ledge, give the Dolphins credit, give Cassell a break, and hope that the Defense and Offensive Line step it up.

Seems like "Notimpressedatall" should quit his job and start working on this list with Bill and Company.

WOW

They've lost big and bounced back - I'm not too worried about the D yet. I would like to see them try a 4-3 D...I think having Jarvis Green in there a little more may give those guys a chance to do more up front.

Cassel has to throw something downfield even if it's just to take the heat off Welker...that guy is getting pounded!! They are teein' off on recievers catching passes inside of 5 yards and I don't blame them for looking frustrated (unless that's the look you have after getting hit by a linebacker, a safety and a corner at the same time...I thought Welker was going to punch Cassel in his fat head for that throw over the middle).

They're working with a rookie QB that has never tested his skills in the NFL...er....College...it's going to take 6 weeks for this guy to see the routes develop and look downfield for coverage schemes (at a minimum...to develop that skill well...years...it took Brady a while).

If they can squeeze a little more out of the O-line he'll have a much better chance of success. My hope for this season is pretty simple...keep Welker ALIVE!!!

We need to make obvious adjustments. This is ridiculous, Hobbs and Watson were right. We as Patriots fans are spoiled, its one loss. People need to relax and stand by our team. Players need to step it up. Brady is not coming back, it seems everyone is standing around waiting for someone else to make the play. Its time to rise to the occasion and seize the moment. The O-Line couldn't get out of there own way non the less give M.Cassel time to throw. On that note M.Cassel is not the quarterback for this season. There is a reason he was a back up for the past 8 years. There are a few free agents that are better suited for the job, and a man named J.Garcia on the bench in Tampa who could fill in and give us a better look then M.Cassel. Defensively we need to make a change B. Merriweather , E.Hobbs are not good secondary players. We should think about bringing in a Ty Law and bringing back J.Lynch. We need players who want to play and make things happen. The front office needs to realize, its time for a change and do it..........

There is, and should not be, any comparison between Brady and Cassel. Brady had some college experience while in Cassel's case, Pete Carroll wouldn't even use him when the team was up 20-30-40 or more points. Why is that?

Anyone can see, just from watching his demeanor on the field that Cassel is NOT, in any way, NFL calibre and he needs to be sent packing before he can do any more harm to this team.

O'Connell, even as a rookie, has far more experience than Cassel will ever have at playing in games beyond the high school level.

Did Cassel get a ring for SB 39? if so, let he take it to show to his grandkids, and please, let him leave town. He is no help, at all, to this team.

Thats my opinion, and I would venture to say that I am probably in the majority around all of Patriot Nation.

Richie,
Good points, the Dolphins gained 461 total yds and BB pointed out on his WEEI radio show yesterday that 9 of the 57 total plays Miami had on offense accounted for over 250 yds. So, things aren't as bad as they seem on the surface and I always say things are never as bad as they seem or as good as they seem and it seems to be the case here. Yes the Pats need to be criticized for not making plays on those 9 plays but they did do well on the other 48 plays which is a positive.

Marc,
I agree with your 4-3 idea but with only 6 DL on the roster they would need to sign another player to keep the top four fresh. I also think Wright and Smith will be better players in the 4-3. In additon, this would also keep Bruschi fresh and free up Mayo to be a sideline to sideline tackling machine. At the very least they need to incorporate 4-3 more into their game plans.

It seems obvious that you line up Harrison against Pennington and turn him loose. How many plays would it take to make Sparano stop and call time out before running it again.

My knowledge of football is as a fan, not a player, so take this with a grain of salt. But it seems like a perfect call to have a safety line up on the Pennington if he is in the WR slot because, despite his playing QB in High School, Ron Brown was not throwing against corners like Hobbs and Deltha, nor saefties like Merrimweather. So if the patriots have to give them an option, force them to make a risky throw long by a running back.

It's really that simple isnt it? And even if I am half wrong and they still scored 3 touch downs on the play, that's 2 fewer than what happened, and I can run the replays on pennington getting leveled by a veteran strong safety. I'm sure Ron Brown or whoever the #2 quarterback is at MIA isn't half as good as Pennington.

Pats fans will rationalize anything. Giving up 250+ yards on nine plays to Miami is really, really bad. It negates any good they did. They should get one crack at that play.

If BB had a choice, the Cassel era would be over.

Luckily, BB has a bye week to coach 'em up. Normally, a team would be afraid to play NE after any sort of loss. I wonder if the 49ers are working on the wishbone for week five.

Wildcat formation wasn't the only problem---Howd'd Miami get that far down field before they ran the play??

Sure Cassel will never be Brady. And who cares to argue that point. Just get a decent QB that's going to give the patriots a chance to win.

BB--be truthful with the fans and call it a season or get a new QB. The square peg is not going to fit into that round hole. You seem to have no problem looking at new DB's WR's to fill the roster. At last get someone that can throw a decent screen pass.

That's it,.....just take away those 9 plays and the Pats are fine. Not 1 or 2 plays,......but nine. It takes some teams 3 or 4 games to come up with 9 big plays. You people are like Bizarro fans. I can't understand the logic. You need to step outside of yourselves sometimes. You lost two of the last 4 games you played. Two of those games you were man handled. Both losses you had bulletin board material and were games that are supposed to be easy to get up for,......and you were beat up in both. One of those games exposed a weakness on your offensive line. The other game exposed a weakness in your defense. The two games you won were not impressive as you squeaked out wins against two awful teams. Your defense wasn't great last year and letting Asanti go didn't help. Last year it wasn't so clear because Tom Brady and the offensive juggernaut were lighting it up. Forcing the opponent to become one dimensional. You were able to run against the Pats last year it's just that most teams were throwing the ball to get back in the game. The teams that had success,....the good teams,......ran rather easily and anyone who tells you different is a Homer,.... plain and simple. Why do you think Bill kept his foot on the throttle all year,.....he knew!.

The fact is without an A plus QB the Pats are in trouble. In the past teams have won the super bowl with back up QB's like Hostetler and Brady for example. Both of those teams had MONSTER defenses. Teams have won with lack luster type QB's before like Brad Johnson, and Trent Dilfer. Once again MONSTER defenses. You don't have either in New England. You're correcting defensive issues via the draft, and Brady will be back next year. You'll be back next year,.....but the dynasty is over!

MG,
Football is a team sport where everyone needs to be on the same page on every play. One mistake can lead to a big play for the opponent. That's the silver lining, one play by one player and it's a differenrt result and a big play is averted. That's the same for all teams not just the Patriots. BB teams, last year being the exception, often start slow and finish strong. This team is too talented and BB too good of a coach for this team to fall apart as some are hoping. By season's end this team will be a tough out for any opponent.

I SIMPLY CAN'T EXCEPT THAT THEY COULDN'T AJUST TO HIGH SCHOOL- SCHOOL YARD PLAY. MATT DOES NOT PLAY DEFENSE! WE ALREADY KNOW HE'S NOT BRADY, BUT THAT O LINE WAS PATHETIC. OUT COACHED BY DAN HENNING, SHAMEFUL. THE ONLY PLAYERS DESERVING A PAYCHECK WERE HOBBS, WELKER,AND SPECIAL TEAMS. THE REST, INCLUDING THE COACHING SHOULD DONATE THEIR CHECKS TO THE JIMMY FUND.