Down Right PAT-hetic!
By Matt DeLucia
Take a deep breath, relax try and think positive. To hell with that it’s not working. I can’t relax or think positive because today’s game with the Miami Dolphins was down right pathetic. That’s the most positive thing I can say at this time. There’s no need to go re-watch the game to write this article. It’s not like it’s going to change the outcome or make me feel better writing about it. The only thing that might help is a full blown lobotomy.
The Dolphins just man handled the Patriots on all sides of the ball. We allowed them to come into OUR house, push us around and kick our butts this afternoon. And let’s not ever start with all the unanswered questions that now surround us after the game. To throw a few out there. Do the Pats stick with Matt Cassel? When do they start looking for a veteran quarterback that’s on the open market? Were the Dolphins listening to our play calling?
If you watched the game you would swear the phins knew what we were going to and when we were going to do it. I know I’m not alone on that thinking, I was lucky enough to get a call after the game by the Dolphins writer. Who surprisingly didn’t gloat or brag, he didn’t need too his team came to play and said it all on the field. In the course of the conversation we both mentioned that same though about if the Dolphins were listening to the Pats play calling. Thanks Brian for not rubbing it in and saying “I told you so” just like last year after the Super Bowl!
Right from their first offensive possesion the Dolphins lead by Chad Pennington made the field there’s. The moved up and down at will, at times making the Pats look like a pop warner football team. Pennington was 17 for 20 for 226 yards. The big key for him was hitting any and all of his open receivers at will. He had no problem at all hitting Anthony Fasano, Ted Ginn Jr, Greg Camarillo I think you get the picture no need to go further into that aspect.
Once the passing game was established today, that allowed the tandem of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams to run freely. Brown 17 rushes for 113 yards and 4 touchdowns. As if giving up 4 rushing touchdowns wasn’t bad enough, shall I remind everyone about the pass that Brown tossed to Fasano for a 19 yard score midway through the 3rd quarter. Williams not to be outdone chipped in with 98 yards rushing on 16 carries, and 2 catches for 21 yards.
Matt Cassel was not the same person that we saw last week. He was pressured the entire game, sacked four times and hurried numerous more. His inexperience showed today with throwing one interception, it should of been three but a ball of the defenders fingertips and a roughing the passer call took those picks away. He ended the day on the bench and watching rookie quarterback Kevin O’Connell from San Diego State get his first official playing time in the NFL.
Now in fairness to Cassel who did throw a nice strike to Jabar Gaffney once the game was out of reach. The offensive line didn’t allow him enough time to drop back, scan the field and hit a target. Miami’s defensive front lead by Joey Porter was hounding Cassel the entire game. Porter finished the game and a week of running his mouth by delivering on his promise of a victory. And the three sacks he had in the game was just icing on the cake.
The Patriots now have an off week coming up along with Lions, Colts, Dolphins, Giants and the Seahawks. It gives us time to make today a distant memory and allows us the chance to address some very key concerns and questions regarding the team. Now is the time to make a decision on Cassel, are we going to stick with him and take a chance on the rest of the season. Or is the word out around the league on how to pressure and disrupt Cassel. If there is any uncertainty with the team especially at the quarterback position now is the time to address it.
In other news around the league the Buffalo Bills with their win today now take over sole possession of the AFC East. One bright spot on the day the Colts lost a thriller to the Jaguars on a last second field goal. The Tennessee Titans take a two game lead in the AFC South. The Atlanta Falcons yes the Falcons sit in a three way tie atop the NFC South along with the Bucs and the Panthers. Entering this week there were 11 teams unbeaten, after the Cowboys and Packers game tonight it’ll be down to 6 teams at weeks end.