Matt Cassel Officially Arrives, Even in a Loss

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Nope, understudy quarterback Matt Cassel wasn't able to carry New England to victory on Thursday night. The Patriots dropped to the Jets last night in a thriller of a football game, mainly because they had to play catch up and couldn't stop the Jets offense when it mattered most.

None of that matters, however, when talking about Matt Cassel. This was his breakout game, and what a performance it was.

All the unknown players have one of these before they become household names. Tony Romo had his game against the Buccaneers in 2006, throwing five touchdowns and no interceptions in just his fifth start as a Cowboy. Tom Brady had his in 2001, a three touchdown performance against his soon-to-be foe Peyton Manning as the Patriots took down the Colts at Indianapolis and set us up for years of Brady-Manning showdowns.

Thursday night was Cassel's birth, a 30 of 51 performance with three touchdowns and 400 total passing yards. The numbers can 't exactly explain that final drive though.

If composure was a verb, it would have been Cassel at the end of regulation. Cassel to Ben Watson for nine yards. Cassel to Watson for 11 yards. Cassel to Wes Welker for 17 yards, every time making sure to get his team to the line and spike the ball a split second after they were set.

That drive was what we have all become accustomed to with the Patriots. Needing a touchdown with 1:04 left in the game, Brady and company usually got it. This time, Cassel found it. After another 14 yard gain put the Pats on the Jets 16-yard line, the quarterback that never started a game in college found himself scrambling as the clock was hurrying to find zero. Rolling right and looking to have absolutely nothing, Cassel delivered one of the better crunch-time passes you will ever see.

With Randy Moss falling away -- the defender's hand basically picking Moss' nose -- Cassel threw a pass that gave the words "tight spiral" a new meaning. Touchdown Patriots. Cassel brought them back. Goosebumps, show yourselves.

Unfortunately for the first-year starter, the Jets won the coin flip and the defense broke down when it needed to stand strong. If the football gods had a conscience, they would have allowed Cassel one last chance to drive down the field in overtime.

The Patriots might be trailing the Jets in the division, but Pats fans should be as hopeful as they were pre-Bernard Pollard. This kid ain't all bad.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-14-2008 @ 2:10PM

bigflyer said...

Cassel played superbly, but the first half was a mishmash of missed opportunites for the Pats.
The defense and special teams let us fans down and the old gunslinger got his Jets close enough for the overtime FG.
Isn't it about time the NFL lets each team have one offensive posession from their own 30 yard line in OT instead of a coin flip?

11-15-2008 @ 8:55PM

Joe91898 said...

The Pats were lucky the Jets went into the "prevent defense" on that last drive. If they played defense straight up the game would have ended in regulation.
The big question is will the Pats get spanked by Dolphins again? 6-5 and behind the Dolphins in the standings is where I see the Pats next week.

11-14-2008 @ 2:36PM

RAY said...

WHATS THE POINT HE STILL LOST. J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS

11-14-2008 @ 3:34PM

Ah yes, those very same Jets that have not won anything like a SB in nearly 40 years. Those Jets?

11-14-2008 @ 5:28PM

ken c said...

it was all luck for the jets-pats had all of the momentom the whole 2nd half coming back basicly with their 2nd string-if the pats had won the coin toss for ot they would have scored a td in 2 plays and the jets would have been EMBARREST TO LOOSE

11-14-2008 @ 5:55PM

PAT PATRIOT said...

Cassel would be re-negotiating his contract today if he connected with a wide open Moss and or a posession in OT by the way---where was Green-Ellis? ball control and limiting jets series was a certian victory. AFC east will go down to week 17 I'll still go with the pats

11-15-2008 @ 11:57PM

jeff said...

If, If, If.......when if's start counting I'll tell you all about the Cowboys 12 Superbowl wins.

11-14-2008 @ 11:17PM

K.C.Mass. said...

The Pats blew the 3rd and 15 in OT if it wasn't for that play the outcome would of been different but it is what it is,the Pats didn't let Matt get comfortable in the 1st and 2nd quarters an insider said thar Belichek told Matt to be real careful when throwing and Matt became uncomfortable throwing as he was about 3 feet of on each pass attempt he missed on,to overly cautiuos then they let him loose in the 2nd half and he blew them away,Matt needs to feel Confident and telling your QB in a big game like this o be cautious only distracts a QB,so they let him throw and they almost win,Let Matt Throw and we will win,take some shots to Moss and make him make the Play and you will see a different Moss and the Pats will be unstoppable.Mis Managed I think Lost that game.

11-15-2008 @ 12:18AM

Archie Leach said...

Cassel didn't lose the game. Belichek with conservative approach in the first half, and the aging and slowing defense let the team down. Time for new blood on D. You can't keep these guys 3 years past their prime. Their shelf life has expired. Bye bye Bruschi, Bye bye Schrabel

11-15-2008 @ 6:44AM

K Smith said...

Hey Archie, get your facts straight. Aside from Bruschi, O'Neal and VRABEL, the remainder of the defensive players were all UNDER 29 years old. Look it up!!! "Coach B" needs to let the offense play - they still have the talent to score points. Their (young)defense will improve by the end of the season. After all, they did hold the mighty Colts & Peyton Manning to 18 points in Indy.

11-15-2008 @ 10:10AM

Dick said...

I am a Packer fan and will remain that way, however, I will still follow Farve with the Jets and when he returns to Green Bay to retire his number. You can talk about Manning, Brady, Cassell and whoever but they will never break Brett's numbers as the No. 1 QB in the NFL. Winning the coin toss did not guarantee a win for the Jets. It was Brett's brilliant passing that solitified the win not to mention an 82% completion which translates into a a 130% passer rating. I couldn't care less about the Jets but Brett makes them tick and they are going to the playoffs!!!!

11-15-2008 @ 11:29AM

Robert said...

Where are all those blogging Patriot fans that trashed every team last year. I haven't heard from any of you since the Superbowl! Boy it looks like you can dish it out but you can't take it. Dynasty - RIGHT!!! LOL

11-15-2008 @ 12:37PM

lk said...

Archie, it isn't the age of our defense, it is that we have had too many losses and have too many rookies playing. Actually thank god for our veterans. The Pats made quite a few uncharacteristic mistakes and the bad call against Vrabel on 3rd and goal gave the Jets an automatic first down and subsequently that last TD. Woulda, coulda, shoulda, doesn't matter. We don't have the win and the Jets do. Cassel looked really good and it was nice to see him finally be able to throw into the endzone for TD's. Jerod Mayo also look really good. Hard to believe he is a rookie. I agree with poster #1 in that I wish OT in football was more like extra innings in baseball. Both teams get an opportunity. I found myself praying during the coin toss "please win the toss" but we did not.

11-15-2008 @ 12:52PM

pat patriot said...

excuse me Dick-Why are you talking about farves numbers? here's some for you----Brady 3 SB rings in 7 seasons Farve-1 Cassel 400 air yrds& 62 turf in 1 game Farve-never Brady-50 TD in 1 season Farve? If we're talking statshere,remember both of these YOUNG gentlemen have a long time to go

11-15-2008 @ 6:27PM

honested said...

so what if brady has 3sb rings,and brett has 1,the difference is brett didnt cheat anyone to get his sb ring he and his team went out and earned it you do the know the meaning of earn right?or are you guys so full of your self that it doesnt matter how anyone gets their things now a days,if thats the case then all you cheater fans would fit right in with those sob's that stole all that money on wall street,bunch of thieves and liars, and perversion is what you guys are,whats the matter you guys getting tired of hearing it ? well to bad cause from now until hell freezes over will you hear it ,bunch of sorry ass sob"s hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11-15-2008 @ 10:22PM

honested,
cut the crap about Patriots cheating. We have heard it sll too many times before. How about your interception record holfing boy addicted to pain killers? Isn't that a form of cheating? How about calling your friend on the Lions and speaking to him about the Packers playbook for an hour before the Detroit -Green Bay game. That is cheating isn't it?
Brady did nothing wrong and when he left the field for the SB versus the Giants, he marched the squad down the field and had the Pats ahead. The defense of the Pats let the team down. The fact of the matter is that the Pats have dominated the better part of this decade. Believe me I have been a fan for a long time, back to the Boston Patriots team and the Pats sucked alot longer than the Packers ever did. That's why we in Boston cherish the Patriots so much. We remember the 2 and 14 years, the previous rotten, cheap Sullivan ownership days. The Packers are fun to watch (there is nothing else to do in Green Bay anyway) but beware of Farve's legacy. He urinated on it himself this Summer.

11-16-2008 @ 12:00AM

Looks like the Pats are the same old Pats again.

11-16-2008 @ 12:03AM

They all jumped on the Titan or Giants bandwagon......and the true diehard pats fans are just keeping mighty quiet.