Making the Grade

My good friend, the Pobble, mentioned that she was wondering my take on how the Pats would fare without Mr. Brady. I've kept silent this week because I decided that with every other person in the known sports universe chatting about Tom Brady there was no reason to add my voice to the din. Those ladies and gentlemen are all paid good money to dissect every angle and every twist and turn to the point where you just don't want to hear it anymore.

For myself I spent the week in the wait and see world. Though I was skeptical about Cassel's ability to win and there were concerns of Randy Moss getting ornery without his favorite signal caller in the huddle, the fact was that Cassel had led the Pats to victory against Kansas City and the Jets didn't exactly look like world beaters against the lowly Dolphins so it was just time to wait and see.

Turns out that Cassel again acquitted himself quite well. He kept the team in check, kept turnovers to a minimum and helped his team start the season 2-0. After all, that's all that counts. The Patriots have once again started the season 2-0 and have won arguably the toughest division game on their schedule by winning in the Meadowlands. There is not a team in the AFC East that despises the Pats more that the J-E-T-S Jets and the Meadowlands was ready for them with all the swagger and insults as if the Jets had won the Super Bowl last year instead of the Giants. Cassel came in (his first start since high school in case you hadn't heard) and calmly helped his team to victory.

That being said, there is a long way to go. You will note that I did not say that Cassel led the Pats to victory yesterday. He threw no touchdowns (no interceptions either by the way), he did not light up the scoreboard in Eff-You touchdown fashion. There were no long 50-yard bombs (the one he could have had was thrown too short and the defender caught up to Moss to break up the pass). He was a part of the team. Lamont Jordan was a key component with his hard-nosed second half runs. The defense was stout, highlighted by Adalius Thomas sacking not only Brett Farve but the running back who came to help him as well and the interception by Brandon "Cleat-Stomper" Merriweather. It's been said by others and I agree that this team will have to win as a team this year. Just like in 2001. Brady was not a superstar then. No one thought he was Hall of Famer but he did what needed to be done to succeed. Cassel showed on Sunday that he can do that as well. You passed your first test Matt, only 14 more to go.