Jets Get Mossed: Patriots Win Opener 38 to 14

Usually the season opener doesn't reflect what a team is going to play like for the rest of the season but Patriots fans should hope this game does. The Patriots offensive gained 431 yards by land and air well only defensively giving up 227 yards. There were questions before the game whether or not Randy Moss or Asante Samuel would be either healthy or prepared enough to play but both were and played key roles in the win. Moss was totally dominate the whole game. Not Jets defender could cover him - and in the instence of his 51 yard TD - three Jets defensebacks were unable to keep up with him. Moss totaled nine receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown and I believe that he caught every pass thrown to him by Brady. The thing about Moss is that he'll catch passes that normal receivers (aka-every other receiver that Brady has thrown to...) will never make. If only Brady had him his whole career... The running game was also very effective with a two headed attack of Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris together totaled rushing 126 yards on 31 attempts. Heath Evans had the Pats only rushing TD in garbage time - with Junior Seau as his lead fullback.

On defense, the Patriots shut down the Jets running game but struggled at times to stop the passing attack. Jarvis Green filled in for Richard Seamour effortlessly and was probably the Patriots defensive player of the game with six total tackles and two sacks. Overall the Pats defense had five sacks, one forced fumble and made generally made Chad Pennington very miserable.

Special teams was special. Ellis Hobbs on the first play of the second quarter ran back a kickoff a NFL record 108 yards for a touchdown. At first his decision to make the return He was almost tackled at the ten yard line but he broke through the attempted tackle and it was just pretty much clear sailing the for the next 80 yards.

The Good
*Offensive line - Brady was not sacked the entire game and only got knocked over once. They also did a great job of opening up holes on rushing plays.

*Tom Brady - 22 for 28 for 297 yards and a touchdown. His 51 yarder to Moss was one of his best passes in his career.

*Randy Moss - talk about having a great debut. So much for that rumor that he was going to be cut at the end of training camp...

*Jarvis Green - two sacks, six total tackles, Patriots defensive player of the week.

*Mike Vrabel - 2.5 sacks, seven tackles; with Thomas playing inside, Vrabel is back in his nature role as an outside linebacker.

*Wes Welker - six receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown reception was the Patriots first of the game.
The Not So Good
*Matt Cassel - fumbled a snap that most likely cost the Pats three points and Cassel his holding job. Good thing they ended up not needing the points.

*Teddy Bruschi - can't cover running backs anymore and it showed. Is still a great run stopper but has lost a lot of his 2001-2005 speed.

The Patriots have two possible NFL players of the week with Ellis Hobbs (special teams player of the week) and Randy Moss (offensive player of the week).

Next week it's the Chargers on Sunday night football.