by Scott Benson
scott@patriotsdaily.com

The old dog had some old tricks for the Patriots yesterday.

Former Pats defensive chief Romeo Crennel and the Cleveland Browns managed to do what no one had done yet - extricate Randy Moss from the center of an explosive New England offense - but in the end, they couldn’t cover everybody, or cover for their own mistakes. 

The Patriots defense forced four Cleveland turnovers and Tom Brady teamed with Ben Watson and Sammy Morris to get by the Browns, 34-17, for a win that was not nearly as comfortable as the final score would indicate.

For the first time this season, the Patriots offense stumbled - converting just 2 of 12 third downs and scoring just 1 touchdown in 4 red zone tries on a frustrating afternoon  - as Crennel and the Browns blanketed Moss (just 3 catches) and forced Brady to look elsewhere for help.

Ultimately, that help was there for the deep Patriots, as Watson gathered in 100 yards and two scores and Morris piled up his second straight 100 yard game in relief of Laurence Maroney, allowing Brady to overcome the partial loss of power and throw for at least three scores for the fifth consecutive week.

The New England defense intercepted Derek Anderson three times on deflected first half passes and Randall Gay stripped Kellen Winslow and returned the fumble for a touchdown to mask a pedestrian afternoon in which Anderson and the Browns totaled 22 first downs and 350 yards of net offense on the formerly top-rated Patriots D.

The turnovers kept the Pats comfortably in front through the first half, but Anderson came back to lead the Browns to 17 points over the final 30 minutes and force the Patriots to play for keeps well into the late afternoon.

It might have been worse, had Anderson not bounced an end zone pass off Asante Samuel into the arms of Junior Seau after driving the Browns 60 yards on their first possession, which would have given them an early lead in the Pats’ own park. Instead, the ill-advised pass (Samuel was the only one open on the play, though he muffed it straight in the air) kicked off a series of events that left the Browns trailing by 20 at the half.

The Pats caught more than one break on that drive: after an impressive 11 yard run on the first play, ace runner Jamal Lewis limped off with an ankle injury, never to return.

After the Patriots could do nothing with the turnover, Anderson took over and again went back to pass, this time to the right flat. There waited the Ali-like wingspan of Adalius Thomas, and this time it was Samuel on the other end of the tipped ball near the Cleveland 30.

Brady, who on the opening possession had been held to a field goal after a long drive was stunted in the red zone, immediately went to the air himself. There, safely behind impregnable protection (ouch - no pun intended), he scanned a series of options before deciding on Donte Stallworth, who gathered it in at the Browns 25 and outweaved everyone to the end zone, and a 10-0 lead.

Stallworth had his second straight strong game - he’s quickly becoming the Pat most likely to do something interesting after the catch. He slithers more than he runs. He was surrounded by Browns on the touchdown, but was always just out of their reach. With Moss limited to two first-half catches (both on the opening drive), Stallworth emerged to retain the Pats’ outside game.

Everything started, as it should, with the superlative play of the New England offensive line. It’s like future politician Brady has already been assigned a Secret Service detail. He’s getting all the time on the rope line he needs, and the backs continue to find creases in which they can square up and plow ahead.

Morris is nothing if not the living definition of solid, a physical back that almost always is able to lean forward for three and four yards. With the official designation of Maroney as “Injury Prone” now but a formality, Morris is increasingly becoming an indispensible player for the Patriots.

As is Russ Hochstein, who moved to center for the ailing Dan Koppen after filling in for the previously-ailing - and now returning - Stephen Neal at right guard. The Patriots have suffered two injuries to the core of their line and haven’t skipped a beat, thanks to the long-time standby who’s often as effective as any starter.  

The two turnovers slowed the Browns, who kept it close to the vest for a bit, content to distract the Pats with Scott Player’s ridiculous moustache. If you are going to make a facemask choice like that, why add the friggin’ handlebar moustache? A blond handlebar moustache? Player, please. I think he even spooked Brady, who again drove New England inside Cleveland’s 10 only to be turned aside with only another field goal. Despite two long drives and two turnovers by their opponent, the Patriots still led by less than two touchdowns.

Emboldened by their (relatively) good fortune, Cleveland began to drive again, and three first downs brought them to midfield. But at the two minute warning, Mike Vrabel’s bull rush from Anderson’s right put him on the quarterback’s hip as he tried to throw. The ball was free in the air again, and again it was a Patriot - Seau, for the second time - that was waiting.

Seau just about gave everybody a heart attack by stopping in the middle of his return - perfectly positioned in the center of the field, where everybody could see - to wave the ball wildly in the air as angry Browns approached. He was mercifully tackled before he could pitch the ball to Bill Belichick or something equally as puzzling as his mid-return brainfart.

The interception gave Brady the ball at the Browns 25, and Watson stepped forward for the first of his two touchdown catches, an easy flip and run to the left side flag from the Cleveland 7. Watson later beat single coverage to race down the right hash and pull in a perfectly thrown Brady pass for a 25 yard, fourth quarter score, his fifth of the season. His development into a reliable contributor this year has been a quiet success story for the highly-touted Pats.

With a 20-0 lead to start the third quarter, the biggest concern for New England was how quickly the game clock could tick off the final 30 minutes. It felt that way anyway, as the offense stalled for its first scoreless third quarter of the season and the defense striggled to get off the field. Cleveland seemed to hold the ball for most of the period, as the Patriots offense could only muster two first downs. Here Moss’s absence was most deeply felt, as for the first time his year, his connection with Brady seemed ill-timed. Brady’s forced attempts flew wildly past a blanketed Moss again and again, leaving all due credit to Crennel and his staff, who offered the league’s first answer to the dynamic duo. Did the three-time champion coordinator start a book on Moss yesterday by showing the rest of the league how to dim New England’s brightest light? We’ll find out.

Just as we’ll find out about the Patriots defense, who started the day at the top of the league’s statistical rankings but ended it by getting backpedaled by Anderson, who directed two fourth quarter touchdown drives to keep the game close. Backup tailback Jason Wright (100 total yards of offense) proved problematic for New England, as did Braylon Edwards (100 receiving), Tim Carter (a 21 yard TD pass from Anderson) and Kellen Winslow (a 15 yard score to complete a bang-bang two-play drive). The Patriots couldn’t cover anybody and couldn’t get off the field, despite a season-best effort from Tedy Bruschi (two sacks on wide open blitzes).

That left the Pats with a ten point lead and six minutes to play, and as has been their custom, the offense launched a clock killing ball control drive behind Morris and Kyle ‘The Kloser’ Eckel, who provided late game relief for the second straight week. But again, Cleveland closed the Pats down inside the red zone, and Belichick eschewed a field goal for a failed 4th down pass to Kyle Brady, which had no chance of succeeding from the snap. This confused me almost as much as Seau’s premature celebration; why not take the sure three and a thirteen point lead, forcing Cleveland to score two touchdowns in one minute to win, rather than just a touchdown and a field goal to tie? 

Maybe it was because it left the Browns backed up to their own goal line, and when Winslow was stripped by Gay (who finished with a neat cross-country return for TD), it didn’t end up mattering. The Pats left the field with another three-score margin of victory, though they had to know just how slim that margin really was.

by Scott Benson
scott@patriotsdaily.com

Score one for the Patriots defense.

Their offensive teammates have been the NFL’s big story over the first month, but last night, the Patriots defense led the way as New England ran their record to 4-0 with a 34-13 win over the Bengals in Cincinnati.

Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati offense were held to 280 total yards and only one touchdown, and the Patriots forced two turnovers, including Asante Samuel’s game changing interception as the first half closed.

With the Bengals driving to cut a 17-7 deficit to just three points before halftime, Samuel stepped in front of a Palmer misread at the Patriots goal line, preserving the two score lead and cutting off what turned out to be Cincinnati’s last real chance to be competitive on the night.

The Pats had just one sack, but they kept steady pressure throughout with a four man rush (led by Ty Warren), as the New England secondary blanketed all-world receiver Chad Johnson (the only man alive having a better year than Randy Moss), holding him to just 53 yards on 3 catches. Running mate TJ Houshmandzadeh had 100 yards and Cincinnati’s only touchdown, but it took him 10 catches (several in garbage time) to do it. When it mattered most, the Bengals vaunted passing game was held in check. 

After some early success, backup running back Kenny Watson was eventually sat on by the New England front, who held the Bengals to just 15 rushing attempts. With nowhere to turn, Cincinnati did not convert a single third down opportunity, going 0-7.

Though they are one of the top statistical defenses in the league, most observers remained skeptical about a New England unit that had struggled in the red zone and had yielded a few extended drives under the cover of three blow out wins to start the season.

But last night the Patriots defense stepped forward against one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses and shut them down in their own ballpark.

But yeah, the offense wasn’t bad either.

Tom Brady and Randy Moss continued their blistering pace, as Moss piled up another 100 yard, two touchdown game. He was never more impressive than on his first touchdown, which capped off a seven-minute, 62 yd second quarter drive as the Pats nursed a precarious 10-7 lead.

The Bengals had just driven 65 yards in about two minutes to swing momentum to their side and bring them within three. Brady and the Pats took over again at their own 40, and a ball control drive featuring Sammy Morris brought the ball inside the Bengals 10. Yet Cincinnati stiffened, and Moss took cornerback Jonathan Joseph on a third down route into the end zone that left him well covered and pinned against the sideline to Brady’s left.

Brady threw it anyway, a bullet to Moss’s back shoulder, and the veteran muscled Joseph out of the way to gain possession and tap both feet before being driven out of the end zone. A sensational play by perhaps the most sensational Patriot ever, and New England had a two-score lead for the first time on the night.

Samuel’s interception followed, and the Patriots were in full control. Without Moss’s brilliance, they may have been turned away with only a field goal, and who knows what could have happened then.

Brady was tremendous again, in full command of the vast arsenal at his disposal. With the ESPN Monday Night Football crew fawning at his every move, the telecast eventually devolved into a full-on “Brady for MVP” rally, led by Tony Kornheiser, who is just plain awful.

Morris was fantastic in relief of Laurence Maroney, who missed the game with a groin injury. The Patriots came out with a spread pass-first offense, but when the Bengals suffered more injuries to their already decimated linebacker corps, the Pats went to Morris, who finished with 117 yards in 21 carries (and a third quarter touchdown). His bruising lean-forward style furthered battered the Bengals and allowed the Pats to control the game and stunt an early Cincinnati pass rush that had Brady moving around the pocket with urgency.

The Pats offensive line had another top performance, opening holes for Morris and the other running backs (173 yards rushing) while keeping the Bengals speed rushers at arm’s length from their quarterback.

Mike Vrabel caught his seventh career touchdown pass (on seven receptions) from a first quarter goal line set, leaving us to wonder: why the hell doesn’t anybody ever cover him in that situation? 

That’s a question for another day.  The answers came on the other side of the ball last night.

by Scott Benson
scott@patriotsdaily.com

In the first twenty-three minutes of play yesterday, the Patriots:

*Took a turnover on their opponent’s first possession to a 1st and Goal, yet came away with only three points;

*Gave up a seven minute, 80 yard touchdown drive - and the lead - to a rookie quarterback seeing his first NFL action;
 
*Scored no points after being stuffed on a fourth down try near their opponent’s 20;

*Lost another score when their Super Bowl MVP quarterback fumbled inches from the opposing goal line;

*Lost two instant replay challenges, and two timeouts.

Then they woke up.

And in the end, those early cobwebs proved insignificant as the Patriots rolled to another impressive win, 38-7, over the undermanned and overmatched Buffalo Bills yesterday at Foxboro.

Tom Brady threw for four touchdowns, Randy Moss continued his remarkable start with two more scores, Laurence Maroney ran for 100 yards and the defense held the Bills to under 200 in total offense while forcing two turnovers, as New England ran their record to 3-0 for the first time since 2004.

I’m sure the Patriots were trying, but they were horribly sloppy in the first quarter and a half, which resulted in Buffalo having a surprising early lead despite losing starting quarterback JP Losman on their first possession to a questionable low hit by nose tackle Vince Wilfork.

It shouldn’t have been surprising - after two emotionally taxing weeks, the Patriots were facing a winless opponent that had suffered nothing but indignity and grievous injury since the season’s opening kickoff.

Those injuries only continued for Buffalo when Losman went down after Wilfork dove at his knees on a short completion on the first play of the game. Wilfork was undoubtedly shoved towards Losman on the play, but its hard to feel good about the elbow Wilfork threw at Losman’s knees after the ball had cleared.

To Buffalo’s credit, they overcame the loss to quickly take the lead behind a rookie quarterback who was taking his first NFL snaps. 

To New England’s credit, their reeling defense quickly gathered themselves to shut down Trent Edwards - who hit his first four passes as a pro to drive the Bills the length of the field and into the New England end zone - giving Brady and company the chance to take over the game, then put it out of reach.

It was Wes Welker who snapped the Pats out of it.

After the Brady fumble at the Buffalo goal line, the slot receiver (who also had 6 catches for 69 yards, including a 26 yard catch and run that ended with an ill advised lateral to Moss) had consecutive darting punt returns of 29 and 26 yards to twice set the Patriots offense up with short fields, which led to two New England touchdowns and a 17-7 halftime lead.

The Pats rumbled on in the second half, scoring three times while not allowing the Buffalo offense to cross midfield.

Brady finished with a remarkable 23/29/311 line, as he scales new statistical heights in his eighth year. Moss became the first NFL player in history to have 100 yards receiving in each of his first three games with a new team.

Who keeps track of things like that? Do they know if the Pats set a team record for most consecutive weeks scoring 38 points?

Anyway, after Ben Watson got the first Pats score (after deftly finding a soft spot in Buffalo coverage at the goal line), Moss extended New England’s lead to two touchdowns when he muscled his way open on a short slant pattern in front of Jabari Greer, who was left alone to defend the indefensible. He had no chance when Brady threaded the needle with the throw.

Later, he streaked past Greer to gather in a perfectly thrown 45 yarder from the Pats qb for the score that sent most New England veterans - including Brady - to the bench for the rest of the afternoon.

As I said last week, there are no words to describe Moss’s impact on Brady and the Patriots offense. He already has five touchdowns, and again, his very presence makes the game look easy for his teammates. Brady completed passes to eight different receivers, including Jabar Gaffney (a third quarter TD), Donte Stallworth (a 28 yarder for a first down), Kyle Brady (a 20 yard over the head grab to the Buffalo 2) and Dave Thomas (an early third down conversion).

The Patriots offensive line kept Brady clean (just one sack) against a line it has often struggled with, while guards Russ Hochstein and Logan Mankins and center Dan Koppen opened holes for Maroney, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and Heath Evans, who combined for 177 yards rushing.

The tandem of Maroney and Morris accounted for 149 of those, as Maroney slithered for nearly 5.5 yards a carry while counterpoint Morris pounded away for a respectable 3.8 clip and a short touchdown.

Buffalo linebacker Paul Posluszny was badly hurt (forearm) in the first half while trying to slow down that Patriots running game. Losman hung in after Wilfork’s low hit, but just long enough to be stripped two plays later by a blitzing Ellis Hobbs, who hacked the ball away from an unaware Losman. Soon after, he was limping to the Bills locker room, and Edwards was driving Buffalo to a score.

Just one, as the Patriots veteran defense adjusted to the rookie and kept him miles away from replicating his maiden voyage. Given their inexperienced and undermanned competition, though, there was nothing overtly impressive about the Patriots defense yesterday. 

Yet, maybe that’s impressive in and of itself. After two weeks that will go down as two of the most emotionally wringing in team history, the Patriots on Sunday faced an less threatening opponent, one they should beat easily. In other words, the protypical trap game. One they could just as easily lose, if a hangover persisted and they chose to sleep it off.

They might have been tempted to pull the covers over their heads for a few minutes yesterday, but in the end, the Patriots dragged themselves out of bed, and went to work.

A lesser team may not have woken up at all. 

by Scott Benson
scott@patriotsdaily.com

Before last night’s game with the Patriots, Chargers running back LaDanian Tomlinson told NBC’s John Madden that if San Diego played New England ten times, the Chargers would win nine.

Make it eight.

After a week in which they and their head coach were the object of national scorn, ridicule and cheap talk like Tomlinson’s, the stoic Patriots did their talking on the Gillette Stadium field last night, blowing out the chatty Chargers 38-14 before a national television audience.

Madden’s broadcast partner Al Michaels called it: “Pretty much no contest from early on.”

Tom Brady threw for three touchdowns, two to Randy Moss, and the New England defense forced three San Diego turnovers while adding a score of its own, as Bill Belichick and his three-time champions offered their first extended response to the controversy that continues to swirl around them.

Tomlinson, who attacked Belichick last January and again this week before his amateurish boast to Madden, carried 18 times for a meager 43 yards. It is not known who or what Tomlinson will blame his team’s latest failure on, but rest assured, it will be something.

If he wants to be honest (he doesn’t), he can start with Patriots linebackers Rosevelt Colvin and Adalius Thomas, who harrassed Phillip Rivers and the San Diego offense to the extent that it was the third quarter before they could muster something other than bumbling inefficiency.

Colvin intercepted Rivers on the Chargers first offensive play, strip sacked him on two others, and led all Patriots in tackles in perhaps his most dominant performance as a Patriot. His new teammate Thomas, who was all over the field despite a modest stat line, stepped in front on another Rivers pass before returning it 65 yards for a touchdown that gave the Patriots a 24-0 halftime lead that all but put the lights out in San Diego.

The game began with a hysterically laughable Andrea Kramer report from just outside the San Diego locker room, where head coach Norv Turner happened to share with Kramer a fantastic tale of “extraordinary meaures” taken to ensure that shadowy New England operatives, most likely trained by G. Gordon Liddy (if Kramer could be believed), didn’t abscond with Chargers trade secrets, including a closely guarded list of scripted plays that Turner prepared specifically for the occasion.

It might have been the most ridiculous moment in a week that was filled with them. One question: how did that script work out for you, Norv?

Well, three turnovers and three punts in the game’s first thirty minutes of play. Don’t expect any Academy Award nominations for that script, Norv. But don’t worry - you’re still in the running for Best Dramatization by a Totally Overmatched Coach.

Brady (25/31/279) and Moss (8-105) were incredible again, throwing and scoring at will while opening up the field for teammates like Wes Welker (8-91), Ben Watson (5-49 and the game’s first touchdown) and Laurence Maroney (15-77 after a slow start). I have neither the time nor the words to describe the difference Moss is making in New England; it matters not how many defenders bracket him, he simply runs by them to create a Great Wide Open that makes it look like the Patriots are playing on a CFL field.

The success was keyed again by an offensive line led by Dan Koppen and Logan Mankins, who combined to drive Pro Bowl tackle Jamal Williams to the ground, and then finally, from the game. Even two sacks (and a strip) by dangerous pass rusher Shawne Merriman were rendered irrelevant by New England’s mastery of the team that many had deemed their superior.

The Chargers finally put together two scoring drives in the second half, but for the second straight week, the Patriots owned the fourth quarter, controlling the ball for nearly thirteen of the fifteen minutes before punctuating their dominance with a late Sammy Morris touchdown run that closed out the scoring.

The night ended with Belichick, haggard but unbowed, acknowledging the well wishes of the Gillette Stadium faithful as he made his way to the New England locker room. Behind him, his quarterback, left to deal with Kramer (who added a report that the last place Jets are considering further charges - shocking), called him “the greatest coach in the history of the NFL.”

He is that - and once again, he’s coaching the best team in the league.

by Scott Benson
scott@patriotsdaily.com

The 2007 New England Patriots opened for business on Sunday and instantly began crushing competitors like a gridiron Super Wal-Mart.

The first Mom and Pop operation to go belly up was the New York Jets, who fell to the Patriots 38-14 in a game that was, and I say this without a trace of sarcasm, not as close as the score indicated.

The Pats slaughtered the Jets from pillar to post, owning the line of scrimmage and every square inch surrounding it, emphatically denying any claim New York may have laid - prematurely, it seems - to the AFC Eastern Division.

One can only guess which ancient prizefight film Eric Mangini showed his team to prepare for this game. Emile Griffith and Benny “Kid” Paret?

Score over the last eight quarters played between the two teams? New England 75, New York 30.

Randy Moss was sensational in his Patriots debut, threatening the team’s single game receiving record and threatening the rest of the American Conference with his explosive presence in New England’s lineup.

Ellis Hobbs, quite combustable himself, broke an NFL record with a 108 yard kickoff return for touchdown to open the second half. That, and Moss’s 51 yard score from Tom Brady just moments later, also broke the Jets.

New York quarterback Chad Pennington was forced from the game with an ankle injury in the third quarter, to cheers from the Jets faithful.

It all started, though, with the Patriots utter dominance of New York’s offensive and defensive lines. When Brady took the field, he did so with complete immunity from the Jets pass rush. When Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris lugged the ball, they did so through seams and alleys made clear by the physical, yet athletic New England front. There have been few days where all elements of the Patriots offense have meshed better.

This was never more true than on New England’s first possession. After being pinned inside their ten by a Jets punt, the Patriots offense worked free of their own goal line by handing the ball to Maroney, who carried three times for 21 yards. When the Jets moved up to defend, Brady calmly went over them, hitting Wes Welker and then Moss (alone, in full stride in the center of the field) for easy first downs. It was Welker, set in a formation that left him one-on-one with a single defender, that finished the 91 yard drive with a nifty catch, cut and run for the Patriots’ first score of the season.

On the other side of the ball, the New England defensive line immediately took away Thomas Jones and the Jets running game behind the push of Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren, while Jarvis Green and Mike Vrabel collapsed the pocket around Pennington. 

It was only a subsequent series of relativetly minor New England miscues that gave the Jets any hope, and Pennington eventually took advantage, driving the Jets 66 yards with short passes to Laverneus Coles and Jericho Cotchery to tie the game at 7.

But Brady took the game right back for the Pats, leading the offense on another balanced drive that again featured thrilling contributions from Moss, and again ended in the New York end zone. The two time Super Bowl MVP first went right (on a perfectly thrown loft that netted 33) and then left (an overhand fastball for 22) on consecutive plays to Moss, which set up a big-league TD catch by Ben Watson on 3rd and Goal from the Jets 5, as the tight end worked himself free along the back line while Brady whistled one through the Jets for the score, and the 14-7 lead. New York went to the locker room with none of the momentum it had so temporarily held.

Nor would they ever come close to recapturing it, even after the break. Thanks for this goes first to Hobbs, who opened the second half by returning a kickoff from eight yards deep in his own end zone. Which come to think of it, is probably not the best idea. But Ellis Hobbs is no shrinking violet, and so he took it left up the sidelines, where Watson stepped up again with the crucial block that set Hobbs free on his record-setting run. What did I tell you about Hobbs? How can you not have him return kicks?

After the defense again made quick work of the Jets, knocking Pennington to the sidelines with a Jarvis Green sack, Brady went back to Moss for 19 more before sending him deep through a morass of New York defenders, where he took in an on-target Brady bomb to the left flag for the controversial veteran’s first touchdown as a Patriot, and a two touchdown lead.

Pennington and the Jets fought back from his ankle injury to drive again, as Jones began to find open running room for the first time. He ran 4 times for 26 yards (half of his total for the day), and two Pennington strikes to tight end Chris Baker set up a second short touchdown by Coles. The lead was back to 7. 

But it was all the Jets had. Brady and Sammy Morris made sure of that, as they both took the Pats on a drive that ate up 75 yards and more importantly, nearly eleven minutes from the clock. It ended with a 22 yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal, and Clemens began warming up for mop up duty.

Heath Evans added a short touchdown plunge with two minutes remaining.

It’s just one game, but it was a victory so complete that surely someone somewhere will lose their head and declare the division race over before it begins. I won’t go that far, yet, though the Patriots appeared so omnipotent on offense that I hardly recognized them. What a juxtaposition from last year at this time, when passes went awry and body language made headlines. This year, though there are even more new faces than in 06, the Patriots offense moved which such precision and ease that even the most ardent fanboy had to rub his eyes in disbelief of what he was seeing.

As for Moss, there are few superlatives that can adequately describe his immediate and stunning impact on the Patriots attack, so I won’t bother. Except to say that regardless of his well-publicized and well-earned foibles, New England has never had a receiver that was his equal. His route on the 51 yard bomb was stunning; bracketed by three men, Moss simply glided past them to an open area across the field, where he easily gathered in Brady’s accurate toss.

Brady finished with a 22/28/297/3 td (now at 150 on his career) line, and it’s unlikely he’s had a smoother or more tranquil day at the Pats controls. He’s found a fast friend in Welker, who worked quick routes to safe completions and first downs throughout. He and Moss combined for 15 catches and nearly 250 yards.

Maroney and Morris played a solid, albeit secondary role, but it was their steady hand in the early stages that set the Pats on their way. Ryan O’Callaghan joined the Pats offensive line often as a third tight end, and played well as Dante Scarnecchia’s unit had one of its better days.

On defense, Vrabel and Green were the leaders, combining for 4.5 sacks, while Wilfork and Warren ate up the middle. Adalius Thomas played an under-stated role, but proved valuable as a pass defender as he covered a lot of ground in the intermediate middle. He nearly picked off a Pennington pass on the Jets first possession. Asante Samuel and the Pats secondary played off the Jets receivers and, while Pennington had an efficient day, he could generate none of the big plays that vexed New England last season.

Returning vet Eugene Wilson led all Patriots tacklers with 8.

If any Patriot had a rough day, it was Matt Cassel, who as holder flubbed a Lonie Paxton snap that derailed an early field goal attempt. He was later replaced by Chris Hanson (who held Gostkowski’s successful 22 yarder), and when New England needed a backup quarterback to take the final snap, the coaches turned to Matt Gutierrez instead. Ouch.

With week one now satisfyingly under their belts, New England’s players and coaches will turn their attention to the San Diego Chargers, the other team who left the field for the final time in 06 grousing about the Patriots. They open the home schedule at Gillette Stadium next Sunday night.

by Scott Benson
scott@patriotsdaily.com

You know, I might tend to agree with folks who say the NFL pre-season is too long.

I’m good with the first week, when the starters take a bow early and we see the rookies and free agents that are trying to make the team. The starters stretch it out a bit in week two, playing most if not all of the first half. The third week is the full dress rehearsal, and by now, the rookies and free agents are either stepping up, or stepping out.

Doesn’t it seem like it ought to end right there?

Well, the league evidently feels otherwise, and so last night the Patriots passed their way to a 27-20 win over the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium to finish out their pre-season at 2-2.

Matt Cassel, Vinny Testaverde and Matt Gutierrez combined to go 24-34-246 and a touchdown, a late Gutierrez to Bam Childress score that put the game away for the Pats.

Kelvin Kight, Marcellus Rivers and CJ Jones combined to catch 13 passes for 167 yards to lead the New England passing game.

The Patriots defense sacked New York’s quarterbacks eight times, including three from LeKevin Smith, who moved from end to nose in a test of his backup skills there, and two by outside linebacker hopeful Pierre Woods, who also forced two fumbles. Eric Alexander, who has probably made the team already, led all Patriots with 13 tackles (eight unassisted) anyway.

The only real justification for the fourth pre-season game is the final chance to look at the players, young and old, that are still competing for the final few spots on the Patriots roster. New England’s regulars dressed but did not play, save for staring fullback Health Evans, who took a turn at tailback and scored a touchdown.

The Patriots did not escape unscathed, as they lost rookie linebacker Oscar Lua to what appeared to be a serious right leg injury in the early going. After a week in which even his bilingual skills were touted, Lua was over and out before he could even get started. Further proof of our theory that the NFL really sucks sometimes.  

Yet there were a few players that were able to make their case before the final roster cutdown tomorrow.

Rivers, primarily known as a blocker throughout his spotty pro career, continued to show some receiving skills (5 catches for 47 yards) to likely cement a role as New England’s third tight end. Not bad for a guy that got a late start. Rivers may find a way to stick even after David Thomas returns, as Kyle Brady has done little this August to offer guarantee that he can fill the faux Daniel Graham role when the bell rings.

Chris Hanson, the former Jacksonville punter signed after the surprise cut of Danny Baugher earlier in the day, hit the ball reasonably well and even dropped one inside the Giants five with the help of veteran special teamer Dante Wesley. There’s still more than a week before the Pats travel to the Meadowlands to open the season, but Hanson may have done enough last night to survive the ax until then.

Sorry Chris, that one was just sitting there.

Wesley may have grabbed a spot with a late interception of Tim Hasselbeck deep in Giants territory to set up the Childress touchdown that provided the margin of victory. He knocked away two other passes and also impressed with his hustling charity-hop putdown of Hanson’s directional punt. He clearly outdistanced Tory James, the other corner, who did little to establish his value with New England as the two battled to grab one of the final roster spots.

Receiver CJ Jones, however, returned kicks with elan and took in an impressive catch and run for 28 yards. Where were you last year, CJ? Your timing isn’t great, nor is Kight’s, who seems to be developing at a time when the Patriots have more receivers than they have spots.

Speaking of receivers, Garrett Mills worked himself open for four catches of his own, lining up as a tight end and fullback and showing some of the versatility he’ll need to hang on. But with the running backs set and Rivers gaining control of the open tight end spot, where will he go?

Other players with more certain futures with the team also had their moments.

Cassel had his most impressive turn of the pre-season, directing two scores and hitting a few accurate throws to in-stride receivers. He gave way to Testaverde in the second quarter, and Vinny had a up and down performance in his first extended action of the pre-season. He led the Pats to a score in the third with crisp timing throws before throwing a bad interception while trying to force a ball in to a well covered Mills. Gutierrez did everything he could this August to win a spot with the team, and the Pats can only hope to sneak him to the practice squad this weekend.

Woods showed some burst off the edge as a pass rusher (and a knack for dislodging the ball), but in early action against the Giants first team, he was bowled over in goal line defense, giving way to a short Brandon Jacobs touchdown plunge.  Still, he could get the nod over rookie Justin Rogers, who wasn’t able to finish the pre-season as strongly as he started it, and veteran Chad Brown, was has been a non-factor to the naked eye.

Brandon Meriweather started at safety with Willie Andrews, and showed good range despite occasionally yielding some ground in coverage. Not surprising as he was seeing his first time at his most natural position. One thing is certain about Meriweather - he can tackle. He finished with nine. Andrews, another developing player who is likely to stick, had six of his own.

Smith has been a revelation this month, showing versatility across the defensive front with a strong start at the nose last night. He’ll join rookie Kareem Brown (who didn’t even play, giving way to folks like Santonio Thomas and Zach West) to give the Pats perhaps their deepest defensive line of the Belichick era.

Speaking of versatility, the game closed with Bam Childress playing halfback (another young receiver that is coming on at the wrong time for the Pats) and Gutierrez covering kicks, which was probably indication it was time, mercifully, to end the pre-season and complete the construction of New England’s final roster. 

by Scott Benson
scott@patriotsdaily.com

At one point early in last night’s glorious first half, with the Ghost of Woody Hayes fully inhabiting the body and soul of Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, my wife turns to me and says, “if they did this (hand off every play) every week all season long, you’d be the happiest person on earth.”

Yes, dear.

The usually pass-centric New England Patriots instead strapped on the leather helmets and pounded away last night, rolling up nearly 150 rushing yards to key an impressively complete 24-7 win over the Carolina Panthers in the all-important penultimate game of the 2007 pre-season. 

Tom Brady passed for two short touchdowns and the Patriots special teams blocked two John Kasey field goal attempts to finish off the Panthers.

Save for one breakdown that resulted in a 48 yard Jake Delhomme-Kerry Colbert touchdown pass through the center of the Patriots first team defense, New England dominated Carolina throughout, collecting its first victory in three starts.

Laurence Maroney shed his ‘don’t touch me’ jersey and was thrown headfirst into the Patriots offense, lugging the rock on New England’s first seven plays from scrimmage (and eight of the first nine; now THAT’S balance, Josh!) in a scripted sequence intended to bust the cherry on the second year man’s comeback from off-season shoulder surgery. He finished with 58 first-half yards on 15 tries before taking his leave at the break.  

Heath Evans added 58 of his own yards (and two third-quarter touchdowns, including one from Brady) and Sammy Morris converted an early 4th and 1 deep inside Patriots territory as I pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming all of it.

Oh, yeah, I guess the quarterback and receivers were pretty good too, particularly in extending New England’s 90 yard, 18 play field goal drive that ate up nearly ten minutes of the first quarter.

The Patriots offensive line, after a horrendous performance against Tennessee last week, fairly pushed the lauded Carolina front seven all over the field while walling off the pocket against one of the NFL’s best pass-rushing defenses. If they were an ‘F’ last week, they were ‘A+’ last night, in the practice game that most observers feel best resembles regular season action.

The Pats defense continued on its even keel, stunting the Panthers rushing attack from the start and rendering inconsequential a decent Delhomme performance, as his 11-18-162-1 line could produce only the six points that came from Colbert’s catch and run past Mike Richardson, James Sanders and the trailing Eugene Wilson.

Linemen Vince Wilfork and Jarvis Green overwhelmed the center of the Carolina field goal unit to knock away Kasey’s attempts, each one setting up a short field (and subsequent touchdown drive) for the Patriots offense.

Both starting squads played well into the third quarter, as is the custom for third pre-season tilts, and in all respects the Patriots walked away with the decisive edge as rookies and backups once again ran out the clock to little effect. For the first time this August, the Patriots put together a complete game and looked damn near ready to start the season. Now, only the truly meaningless pre-season finale with the Giants stands between the Patriots and their opening day date with the Man-Genius.

If the Patriots go at the Jets with the same mix of aggressiveness and efficiency as they did the Panthers, I am SO reading all the New York papers on Monday, September 10th.

Some random thoughts:

*Belichick’s 4th and 1 challenge to his offense, issued despite field position at New England’s own 24, was THE highlight at this address. Who says this guy is no fun? The beauty, of course, is that the kick-in-the-ass challenge worked. Morris, coming in to relive Maroney after the latter had carried the ball seven straight times, left no doubt on the 4th down try, surging for five yards behind the right side of the Patriots line. The Pats offense then churned downfield in classic ball control style, settling for the field goal only after Ben Watson couldn’t hang on to a Brady toss in the back of the Carolina end zone. An accurate and catchable throw went for naught, with all due credit going to Chris Gamble, who stripped it as Watson fell to the ground. Small complaint on an otherwise complaint-free night: shouldn’t a tight end known for pass catching be a better receiver?

*Morris, on the other hand, is exceeding expectations. He’s falling right into the ‘power back’ role in a manner so solid and consistent that I can’t help but wait for the other shoe to drop. Wait - he doesn’t own a ‘kennel’, does he? He also reminded us of his Dolphin days when he grabbed a Brady third-down flip and slashed for a first down. He, with Evans and veteran playmaker Kevin Faulk (who didn’t play after excelling the two weeks previous), seemingly give the Pats the depth and versatility they will need behind Maroney. The Pats running game was tested last night and, ironically, it ‘passed’.

*Maroney was very good, I thought. At first, he hunted and pecked like me on this keyboard, causing him to be stacked up at the line, but he gradually loosened up and began leaning forward for four and five yards at a time as the Pats o-line gave him plenty of room for his quick cuts and darts. His best run came on one he bounced outside, a 12 yarder on the Pats clock-eating first quarter drive. The best news came afterward, when Maroney reported no trouble with his recovering shoulder. Like I said, am I dreaming this?

*The Patriot Most Likely to be Featured on Entertainment Tonight jumped back into the New England lineup after a couple of personal days (I’m still working my sources to nail down the reason for the unplanned absence) and had one of those vintage Brady performances. His direction of that 18 play, 10 minute drive  could have just as well come from your Three Games to Glory video library. Though the Pats were intent on grinding it out, Brady went to the air to convert key third downs to Morris and Wes Welker (best night so far), and probably should have gotten six points for his trouble (see above). He later finished another run-based drive with a touchdown pass to a wide-open Marcellus Rivers, and in his final drive of the night (to start the third quarter), he threw seven times in eight plays, completing six, to rip off a bang-bang 77 yard touchdown drive capped with a nifty Brady to Evans check down. On 1st and goal from the Carolina 8, the quarterback dodged and weaved through the pocket before spotting Evans as he worked himself free underneath the Panther coverage. The fullback, who later added a 43 yard cutback run to his full night, was terrific throughout. As was Brady, fresh from the coast.

*As noted, Wes Welker had his best game, taking in three balls from the slot, and looking more comfortable while doing it. He also looked collected in the Troy Brown ‘Fair Catch’ role as a punt returner, safely gathering in a couple of booming Carolina punts. Donte Stallworth made a nice adjustment on Ken Lucas when Brady underthrew him on a deep ball, and you know something? I can see Kelley Washington one day developing into a long-term receiver for the Patriots as he earns his keep on special teams. I don’t know what this guy’s issue has been, but so far, he’s been nothing but competent for New England, including some surprisingly smooth routes and catches. On specials, he’s routinely one of the first on the scene. How can he not make the team? As they say, it’s early, but the Patriots front office seems to be hitting on their mid-tier free agents, don’t they?

*I honestly cannot think of a particular highlight for the Patriots defense, aside from perhaps the continued success of the defensive line despite the absence of stars Richard Seymour and Ty Warren. They stuffed Carolina at the point of attack, led by the formidable Wilfork (if the Pro Bowl has any merit whatsoever, he’ll be there soon), the invaluable veteran Green, and youngsters LeKevin Smith and Kareem Brown. Please allow me to confirm that the Pats d-line is freaking deep.

*They did allow nearly 170 yards through the air, but hey, look at the scoreboard. They did not sack Delhomme, though they largely kept him in the pocket where he could do the least damage. Which seemed to be their intention. The secondary - which may welcome Asante Samuel this week - gave up the one big play but to the good, they didn’t make a habit of it. Mostly, they kept the ball in front of them.  Another unfettered night for Harrison, who looks as ready as anyone for September 9th, and Eugene Wilson is moving well, delivering a few hard hits is support of the run. Richardson, the rookie from Notre Dame, took some snaps with the big boys and mixed it up well, though it was he that Colbert first eluded before he raced past a diving Sanders as Wilson chased in vain.

*Oscar Lua had a smooth interception of a David Carr pass that stopped a 4th quarter Carolina drive that had taken the Panthers inside the Patriots 20 yard line. Generally, though, this was a night for the first-string, and Lua and other hopefuls will have to wait until Thursday night for the chance to play their way onto the team.

*Stephen Gostkowski had a great night of kickoffs but went just 1 of 3 on field goals. Both misses were long ones, yet they had plenty of distance and no accuracy. The Patriots had better be as dominant as they were last night if the Ghost is going to struggle from the field.

*Lastly, Matt Cassel directed a 69 yard touchdown drive that was largely the result of Evans’s 43 yard burst, and then went three and out in his only other possession. By the way, welcome back Vinny Testaverde, who went three and out himself, but to be fair, like Jerry’s grandma, he’s on a very fixed income.

Sorry for the late post this morning, but I too am on a very fixed income.