The Underdog Once Again: Week Two Wrap-Up

It never gets old, does it? No matter the situation, no matter how many wins either team has accumulated prior to the game, it always feels good to beat the Jets. It feels even better to do it in the Meadowlands. And when the Pats are listed as the underdog.

Even though the Jets became "the team to beat in the AFC East" after the injury, the Patriots shut all the analysts up, almost making it look too easy. With an (overly) inexperienced quarterback at the helm, the Pats were able to control the game and systematically beat old-man Favre and the Jets in his home opener. Ouch.

Cassel did his job, and he did it perfectly. He didn't force any throws, scrambled when he couldn't find his man, and didn't commit any turnovers. That's exactly what the Patriots asked of "Football Jesus" when he took over for Bledsoe in 2001.

Although it was the offense that overwhelmed teams last year, it's the defense's turn to win games this year. They certainly did their job this week.

Player Stock Market

BUY

• Defensive Front Seven: If anyone doubted the Patriots' defensive line or their "aging" linebacking corps before this game, they're eating their own words today. The defensive line was spectacular, eating up every lineman on each play, allowing the linebackers to roam freely. And while they weren't man-handling this "strong" (ha!) Jets OL, they were being held for penalty yards, stopping the run, or sacking the QB. And that's just the front three. The linebacking corps looked great as well. Mayo was making plays all over the field (seven tackles); the kid is scary fast. Adalius Thomas was wreaking havoc on the Jets, most notably when he sacked Favre AND Leon Washington at the same time (Favre also fumbled on the play). Vrabel and Bruschi were held to low solo-tackle totals (one and two combined), but were key contributors on many plays. On a 1st-and-goal from the Patriots' three-yard line, this group held the Jets to a field goal. This front seven looked as good as they ever have since 2001. If they can keep it up, there's no telling what this defense can do.
• RB LaMont Jordan: Who would've thought the Patriots leading rusher wouldn't have been handed the ball until the second half? In fact, he rushed for more yards than every other running back on the Patriots roster combined. It's been a while since the play-by-play can read something like "Jordan, five yards. Jordan, five yards. Incomplete pass. Jordan, eight yards. Jordan, three yards. Jordan, five yards." A consistent ground game will be essential for the Patriots throughout this season, and they look to have a great group of 'backs. If Jordan and Morris can continue to pound the ball and tire defenses, while Maroney is used in more of a "scat back" role, the Pats will be successful.
• WR Wes Welker: The receiver caught seven passes for 72 yards and looked to be Cassel's favorite target (sounds familiar, doesn't it?). Although he didn't catch a TD, he was the Patriots' No. 1 weapon when the Jets double and triple-teamed Randy Moss (who only caught two passes for 22 yards, by the way). Welker could make Cassel look very good this year.
• S Brandon Meriweather: The young safety did what every team wants to do to Brett Favre: intercept him when he makes one of his weekly terrible decisions. The interception set up the Patriots' only touchdown, which essentially won them the game.
• The entire team's poise in an opponent's stadium. I know, it sounds kind of corny, but when your team wins by kicking field goals all day, something else had to go right. Well, having only 10 penalty yards (over two penalties) against your team certainly doesn't hurt. Very well done.
• K Stephen Gostkowski (and the rest of the special teams unit): The kicker was 4-for-4 on field goals and five of his six kickoffs went for touchbacks. The one kickoff that the Jets decided to return was stuffed by Ray Ventrone at New York's 19-yard line. The Jets' starting position throughout the game went: own 20, own 20, own 20, own 20, own 25, own 23, own 20, own 20, own 19. Great job by the special teams unit.

Hold

• QB Matt Cassel: The QB finished 16-for-23 for 165 yards and zero interceptions. That's all you could ask for a quarterback who's making his first start since 1999 (when he was a high-school senior). The only reason he's not listed as a "buy" is because the Jets had basically no film to work off of. The more games he starts, the more film teams can analyze, and the more weaknesses they can find. Overall, though, he performed exactly how the Patriots wanted him to perform. Very well done by the young QB.
• RB Sammy Morris: The RB had a great leaping touchdown, but he didn't really do much else. He finished with eight carries for 0 yards (yes, that's a zero).

Sell

• S Rodney Harrison: It pains me to put our defensive emotional-leader on the "sell" list, but he doesn't deserve to be anywhere else. Sure, he ended with six solo tackles and two assists, but that's because the defense was picking on him. He missed several tackles in the run game, and he seemed to slip in the end zone, allowing his receiver to catch an easy touchdown. He could have performed much better than he did this week. Let's hope he shapes up for the Dolphins next week.

All in all, it was a great win for the Patriots. There are still several "easy" games coming up, so the Pats will hopefully keep the ball rolling by winning games the way they did in 2001.