FOXBOROUGH -- A look at who's up and who's down from the Patriots' 17-10 season-opening victory over the Chiefs:
Up
Matt Cassel -- He did what a backup is supposed to do -- manage the game and not make the critical mistake so his team has a chance to win. He finishes 13 of 18 for 152 yards with one touchdown and most importantly, no interceptions.
Rodney Harrison -- Finishes with a team-high 14 tackles and two quarterback hits, and plays multiple roles, from deep safety, to covering tight end Tony Gonzalez (6 catches, 55 yards) closer to the line of scrimmage.
Ellis Hobbs -- Cornerback comes up with an interception and also provides a spark in the fourth quarter with a 51-yard kickoff return.
Randy Moss -- Receiver finishes with six catches for 116 yards, with one of the grabs an impressive 10-yard touchdown grab in the back of the end zone.
Rushing attack -- Credit to the offensive line and tight ends for winning the one-on-one matchups, as Sammy Morris (53 yards, 10 carries) and Laurence Maroney (51 yards, 10 carries) lead the way on a 28-carry, 126-yard effort (4.5 avg.)
Run defense -- Running the ball was the Chiefs' ticket to a win, and the Patriots limit Larry Johnson to 74 yards on 22 carries (3.4 avg.).
Mike Vrabel -- Outside linebacker brings the rush with two sacks, to go with his six tackles. Also draws a holding call on fullback Mike Cox.
Down
James Sanders -- Safety takes a poor angle and fails to keep Devard Darling in front of him, with Darling going 68 yards to give the Chiefs a chance to score a touchdown in the final minute.
Matthew Slater -- Rookie does not cleanly field a kickoff at the end of the second quarter, but is fortunate that Sammy Morris recovers.
Third-down defense -- Sub packages didn't produce consistently enough, with the Chiefs converting 50 percent of the time on third down.
EXTRA POINT: A few emailers were asking if the Chiefs were given five plays -- or one extra play -- at the end of today's game. What likely did not come across on the TV broadcast is that the Patriots had called a timeout before one of the Chiefs' plays, and thus the play -- which was still run -- did not count.
Comment
Permalink
Email
if i can't have my boy Tommy, i am comfortable with Cassel stepping up. i am probably one of the few people who thinks he can do a good job. (he is not the amazing talent Tom is, but i think he could be solid)
Does the Ewing Theory apply?
You are comfortable with cassel? WOW NOW THAT IS THE DUMBEST THING I HAVE READ ALL DAY! We now base our season on a guy that should not have even made the team.....Hope brady gets well enough to be ready to play next year...as far as this season goes it is over. Sure we might make the playoffs but it will be a chris simms taken us there not cassel. The superbowl season is over i don't know what made me feel worse seein brady get hurt or chokin in superbowl....bad year for pats fans
As much as I would like to put on the Patriots colored glasses lets face it...Our chances of a Superbowl this year went down the tunnel with Brady. This team will be lucky to finish 10-6 and sneak into the playoffs as a wildcard.
Surprisingly, I agree with mytirzah. After seeing his poise and performance today, I am no longer sent into violent shivers at the thought of TB being out. Rest up, Tom!
Go Pats!
I'd be shocked if they don't at least put a call in to Culpepper.
Let's not let this ruin the season. I've been looking forward to the start of the NFL season since February. Throw your support behing Cassel and have fun rooting for a team that's an underdog. If Eli could win the Superbowl last year, anyone can.
josh, totally hear where you are coming from. as much as i adore the superman called tom brady. (i think he is one of the greatest players to ever grace the sport of football). if he is out i have to keep rootin' my boys on. not gonna jump ship now.
i just hope tom gets rest and that ACL isn't really torn
Now we know why Kevin Faulk is so valuable....
Mytirah. I don't think people are not going to watch the Pats and want them to win it all, but think it's impossible without Brady. Do you really think Matt C can win them a SB or the division? After losing in the SB it took a long time to get over it and then the first week they lose Brady. The last 2 real games for the Pats have ended as bad as possible.
Also, is it an end of an era for the pats? The D is getting old and our corners suck. Moss will be older, the line will be older, and when will Brady be really Brady again? It usually takes 16 months to be normal again, so are we talking about 1010 before he's Tom again? By that time Harrison is gone and so is Tedy. Who else has left by that time? Don't underestimate how bad this is.
I think Cassel could win a with a control offense like the Parcells Giants did.
I also would take Vinny in a heartbeat . Let Cassel play for 3 more games and if he blows up , yank him for the V man who would be up to snuf f by then.
In any case, yeah, run the ball a bunch and burn 'em to moss & company when they try and T off on you . I think the Pats can win . I don't see any superpowers in the AFC.
Sanders did get burned on that last play, but he played an excellent game until that point. The defense will get better, they will tighten things up as the season goes along. Looks like we're back to smashmouth football on both sides of the ball - and the Patriots have the players to do it.
The photo on Boston.com clearly shows a direct hit to TB's knee.
BS that it wasn't intentional. The video shows Pollard lunging at Brady's knee and then Morris diving on top of Pollard. There was no contact that "forced" Pollard into Brady. Wake up people!
How can the league and all these moronic, former player, talking heads say it's obvious it wasn't intentional?
Only because it's the Patriots. Had this been Peyton, they would be calling for Pollard's banishment from the league saying there is no place for that in the NFL.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
Patriots Twitter
ask reiss
Questions will be considered for Mike's mailbagbrowse this blog
by categoryINside Boston.com