If you heard that Matt Cassel ran for a 13-yard touchdown (along with going 23 for 34, 234 yards), BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 105 yards on 26 carries including a touchdown, Ellis Hobbs had an interception and Deltha O'Neal also had a pick, what month would you think it is? August? Wrong, it all happened in November as yesterday the New England Patriots used another team-wide effort to dispose of AFC East foe the Buffalo Bills, 20-10 at Gillette Stadium.
I was a witness with five of my friends as the Patriots (6-3) methodically outlasted the Bills (5-4) and knocked them out of the three-way first-place tie in the division.
It's getting redundant to say it but Cassel continues to improve while his teammates around him also make plays and help the cause. He will never be a Pro-Bowler and he might not be a starter after this season (unless he goes somewhere else or Tom Brady continues to get Third-World quality medical care) but Cassel has been a more than suitable backup thus far.
After the New England D forced a Buffalo three-and-out on its first drive, Cassel drove the Patriots downfield and capped it off with a 13-yard run up the middle. It wasn't designed that way but he correctly improvised and used his decent running ability to get into the end zone.
In the second quarter, Stephen Gostowski hit a 32-yard field goal to put New England up 10-0. Buffalo kicker Rian Lindell ended the shutout as he booted a 25-yard kick on the next Bills drive that stalled in the red zone.
Bills quarterback Trent Edwards who looked so good early in the season (as Buffalo started out 4-0) made a couple costly mistakes yesterday. He badly overthrew a receiver which led to Hobbs' interception and in the fourth, he tossed another interception into double coverage that O'Neal caught.
Buffalo's other offensive weapon, running back Marshawn Lynch (14 carries, 46 yards) could never get started as the Pats defense held the Bills to 10 first downs.
In the second half, New England used a ball-control offense to put it away. Gostowski had a 37-yard kick in the third then Cassel and the offense went on a 19-play, 92-yard, seven minute drive in the fourth that ended with a Green-Ellis 1-yard TD plunge, giving New England the 20-3 lead.
It might have been the tailgating Bud Lights and Sam Adams talking but I seriously debated with my buddy Kev how Green-Ellis is more suited for the Pats' style than Laurence Maroney. He correctly pointed out that Maroney has much more talent but he wasn't utilized properly. Green-Ellis won't be going to Canton anytime soon but his simple, straight ahead running style is just what the team needed.
Edwards threw a garbage time 14-yard TD pass to rookie James Hardy with under two minutes left in the game.
Wes Welker finished with 10 catches for 107 yards while Randy Moss had five catches for 56 yards.
The Patriots have no time to enjoy yesterday's win since the 6-3 Jets come to Gillette on Thursday night. The Jets smoked the Rams, 47-3 yesterday and they've been playing good football lately (winning three in a row).
The Pats-Jets game in Week 2 seems like a year ago but expect another tight, low-scoring game Thursday night as one of the team takes sole possession of first place. Every divisional game is hard this year as the Dolphins moved to 5-4 with a win over Seattle yesterday.
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