Ups and downs

Instead of "QB hits", how about just say "Matt Cassel" under the Down column. It seems like he can never get the ball out when the blitz comes. While the 2 TDs passes to Randy Moss were the highlights, I think the running game was really the reason for the victory. The left side of the O-line is money!

Also deserving of a thumb down is the fans at Foxboro, the quietest fans in the NFL. As a passionate Patriots fan, It's embarrassing to see the defense having to beg the fans to get loud. Visual evidence on TV only reconfirms my belief. Yes, some of the fans sometimes were making good noise when Denver had the ball. But, unfortunately, most of the fans in the higher-priced, closer seats, as shown on TV, stared in smiling silence. This ain't a Red Sox game. Get up and get loud!

what would it take for cassel to be mvp?
much better than either manning so far

Surpreme12 - for crying out loud. He is not Tom Brady we know that. But he is keeping us moving forward. There are so many people on these boards who said we never even gonna win 4 games all season.
MC will never be a Brady, yet he keeps it cool and is moving on.
Stop complaining, look how the Cowboys with their QB last week. We are way better off with MAtt

I haven't been able to tell whose fault it is when Cassel is sacked...until tonight. It is Cassel's. He just doesn't get rid of the ball in a decisive manner. The only plays that work for him are plays in which his first read is open. After that, he's a coin flip.

Mayo for an up?

team leading 8 tackles and a fumble recovery

Cassel had no chance on some of the sacks. If the left side of the line was money, the right side was more like a turnstile, letting the Broncos run free on play after play.

No update on Morris or Harrison?

That was a god-awful call on Rodney, he hit Cutler right above the numbers, never touched his head.

i'm not sure you can blame all those sacks on cassel. there were 3-4 times that the o-line missed the block and cassel had to absorb the hit. yes, there were also a few times where he did hang on to the ball a little long, but, it's better to take a sack than throw an interception.

Cassell, 3 TD's, no INT's.... UP in my book.

No turnovers for Cassell but needs to make quicker decisions in the Red Zone...Right side of O-Line had issues but it was better when Neal came in...
Cassell has to make quicker reads or he is going to get killed...

Lot's of injuries piling up especially at RB----Another lost year for Maroney....

Looks like Rodney is done--similar to his previous injury---just awful....

Warren for an "up". Watch the two hits on Pittman in the first quarter where the rb was slow to get up and left the game. The second occuring 8 yds downfield after nice hustle. Immediatley after, the sub fumbled. Once because of Warren's strip. Pittman wanted no part of the Pat's D after the first quarter. Warren really set the tone.

Great game last night. Hopefully the injury to Morris isn't serious, on the other hand, I'm not as confident on Harrison. If it is bad as it looked, I think his career could be over. As far as Cassel goes, at least three of those sacks were not his fault. The right side of our line is a turn stile. Billy Yates is a waste of a roster spot. I know its easy to blame the field general, but six games into his true NFL career and Cassel is managing the game well. It isn't exactly what we'd like to see, we'd all like #12 back there. But, with this line, I'd fear for TB's safety just as much. Great win, and hopefully it will provide some fuel for the rest of the season. Go Pats!

MC is still learning. He protects the ball and he executes the game plan. And BB completely supports him despite the media and fans clamoring for Matt's head. This is quite a team. What a touching moment on the field when Tedy cradled Rodney's head on the field. I am so proud to be a Patriots fan. A classier team does not exist.

If you want to beat a blitz you run screens, play action and delays. There were no check offs at the line, protection schemes that left open rushers and experienced blockers who missed their assignments. We can complain that Cassel doesn't read defenses but when Light, Mankins, Faulk and Koppen whiff on their blocks it doesn't matter who's back there.

Oh, and I will give major props to the Pats front office for ths year's draft. 2 undrafted FAs made the team and contributed last night.

Down should be Vince Wilfork for failure to do much save for act like a U-Miami thug and get blocked at the line.

Are people really saying Cassel could be a down? I don't care if it is Johnny U, Brady, or Cassel - No picks is an UP game for any QB, and a big reason why the Broncos never were able to get back into the game. Props to Matt so far - I don't think anyone could imagine the Pats would be contending with him at QB.

He has been up and down but guess what? That is what most of the league gets out of their QB. As long as he protects the football, his pocket presence should improve.

Matt Cassell should be up...BIG UP.
We should not be comparing Matt Cassell 2008 to Brady 2007. We would all like to see the high scoring glamour ball the Pats have played the last few years but you have to look at 2001. TB’s best friend in 2001 was Troy Brown, short possession type receptions. He took a boat load of sacks in 2001 for the same reasons Matt's taking them now...because sacks are better than int's. As the season goes on Matt will read his progressions quicker and take fewer sacks just like TB 2001.
MC’s 2008 stats are almost identical to TB’s 2001 stats and I would take that all year long.
BB was right in 2001 and he’s right in 2008.
Matt is our quarterback.
Steve

OllieK, I know he is not Tom Brady. But it's so frustrating to watch him getting sacked after sacked on almost every blitzing down. 6 times this week, 4 times last week, 5 times at SF. While I would say the O-line is partly responsible, you gotta acknowledge the fact that Cassel wasn't looking down the field. Right now, he is not feeling the pass rush, he is LOOKING at the pass rush.

VKL have to say I'm with you on the some of these fans. Green-Ellis came in, no dancing , hit the hole, made yards, while dragging people with him and from what I saw and heard only a few fans got up to cheer. Hate to see Rodney go. I hope the best for him whatever happens. How about getting to see Tom Jackson EAT HIS PICK on his channel on his show. Now that was priceless!!!

Cassel did all right. Made palys when he had to make plays. No picks! He HAS to get rid of the ball quicker though. Anyone with half a brain watching would know. I will give him an "up" because he made good decisions when he had the ball. BENJARVIS Green-Ellis looked a very good running back last night. He should show Maroney how to hit holes. I was very impressed. Moss, Welker, Morris....studs last night.

Honorable mention: Mike Vrabel for demolishing Dan Graham on that one run to the left. What a great matchup that was.

Also, I think Faulk ran pretty well and Evans' blocking was amazing. Mankins was finishing his blocks all night too. Defensively, Seymour had a monster game. In fact, all the defensive linemen (including Wright) were getting pretty good penetration. I could go without seeing LeKevin at DE, but he was opportunistic last night. Mike Richardson had a couple nice special teams tackles and did a reasonable job in pass coverage for a newbie.

Did Cassel ever complete a pass to a secondary receiver?

oh and it is good to see stephen neal back in the line-up!

Mike, I thought BenJavus Green-Ellis deserved an UP for a solid second half effort in relief of injured Sammy Morris.

Biggest play of the game.... Vince Wilfork smashing cutlers finger into his helmet!

Now if we can just do that the beginning of EVERY game :)

Mike (not Reiss) - Benjamin Watson was the secondary receiver on several plays, including his 29-yard catch-and-run (at least it appeared that way)

What I'm really excited about is the fact that Cassel was sacked once in the second half. He could have been sacked on at least two more plays, but he ditched the pocket and threw the ball away, much like 2001 Brady. Do you know what I'm talking about, Mike (Reiss), and do you consider it a notable improvement as I do?