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Patriots QB Matt Cassel lofts the game winning TD pass to Kevin Faulk with just over three minutes left to play. Patriots.com Photo.

The Result

When watching this team is anyone thinking about how similar they are to the 2001 squad?  They lost their starting QB and the young guy, while no Tom Brady, is doing an adequate job keeping them in games and performing to the best of his abilities.  He seems to get better each week and makes better decisions.  The offense while it has way more weapons than the ’01 Pats is doing what it needs to win as they’re back to using more of the Charlie Weis bubble screens to the receivers.  And the defense has that bend but don’t break mentality and steps it up when the opposition gets deep in their own zone.

This whole retro look gave New England a hard fought, very evenly played 23-16 win over the St. Louis Rams. They improved to 5-2 on the year and coupled with a Buffalo loss Sunday afternoon in Miami have now moved into a tie for first in the AFC East.

Matt Cassel looked cool and calm and seemed to do a better job reading coverages as he was 21 of 33 for 267 yards a TD and 2 INTS.  More importantly they cut down on the sacks.  The Rams only had three sacks and one was credited when Cassel ran out of bounds for a loss.  He also got his first 4th quarter comeback win of his career, doing something Patriots fans are accustomed to seeing in the last 7 seasons but from a  different guy.

Wes Welker and Randy Moss each had 7 catches a piece and Kevin Faulk, who caught the game winning TD was a difference maker with over 100 all-pupose yards (60 yards rushing on 13 carries and 47 yards receiving on 4 catches).  Special teams kicked in as Ellis Hobbs had a 50 yard kick off return and Welker had a 26 yard punt return both giving New England good field position that they could do nothing with.

The defense with the exception of the long pass was pretty good today, Marc Bulger was constantly under pressure and they contained the run fairly well but that big pass play continues to haunt the secondary and it will as they get thinner in depth by the week.

The secondary best step it up a notch though next week against Peyton Manning because regardless of how Indianapolis is playing as a whole Manning will kill them deep if given the chance.

Scoring Plays

lt;td width=”16%” height=”22″ valign=”top”>16

RAMS 3 7 3 3
PATRIOTS 7 6 0 10 23

1st Quarter

  • STL – Brown 20 yard FG
  • NE – Green-Ellis 2 yard run – Gostkowski PAT

2nd Quarter

  • STL – Bulger 69 yard pass to Avery – Brown PAT
  • NE – Gostkowski 30 yard FG
  • NE – Gostkowski 27 yard FG

3rd Quarter

  • STL – Brown 44 yard FG

4th Quarter

  • STL – Brown 25 yard FG
  • NE – Gostkowski 41 yard FG
  • NE – Cassel 15 yard pass to Faulk – Gostkowski PAT

Offensive Player of the Game

A difficult choice but I’m going with Randy Moss as his 23 yard reception late in the game on 2nd and 18 set up the game winning TD.  Moss had 7 catches for 102 yards with a long of 30 in the first half that also set up a Stephen Gostkowski field goal.

Defensive Player of the Game

New England DE Richard Seymour was a beast today.  He had 7 tackles and a sack and everytime he got a chance he brutalized Bulger making the St. Louis QB gun shy.

Turning Point(s) of the Game

The Patriots defensive stand in the 4th quarter that forced St. Louis to punt leading to the drive that was capped by the Cassel TD pass to Faulk for the game winning score.

Offensive Leaders/Notes

In addition to Moss, Wes Welker had 7 catches for 72 yards, Kevin Faulk had a combined 107 yards and a TD and Matt Cassel showed more improvement and was 21 of 32 for 267 yards, 1 TD pass and 2 picks.

  • 1st drive from NE 27
  • Patriots QB Matt Cassel throws under pressure from the Rams. Getty Photo. 3rd/8 from NE 29 Matt Cassel throws 15 yards to Wes Welker
  • 2nd/8 from NE 46 Cassel runs for 6 yards
  • 3rd/2 Cassel throws 6 yards to Welker to STL 42
  • 1st/10 from STL 42 Cassel throws 17 yards to Jabar Gaffney
  • 2nd/9 from STL 24 Cassel throws 10 yards to Randy Moss
  • 1st/10 from STL 14 Kevin Faulk runs 9 yards
  • 3rd/>1 BenJarvus Green-Ellis runs 3 yards to STL 2
  • 1st/goal at STL 2 Green-Ellis runs for TD
  • 2nd drive from NE 26
  • 1st/10 Cassel throws to Ben Watson for 13 yards to NE 39
  • 3rd/10 from NE 39 Cassel runs for 6 yards NE to punt
  • 3rd drive from NE 20
  • 2nd/10 Faulk runs for 5 yards to NE 25
  • 3rd/5 Cassel throws to Welker for 1st down at NE 34
  • 2nd/10 Cassel throws to Faulk for 7 yards to NE 41
  • 3rd/3 Cassel runs for 12 yards to STL 48
  • 1st/10 from STL 48 Cassel throws 16 yards to Moss
  • 1st/10 from STL 32 Cassel throws screen to Faulk for 18 yards
  • 4th/8 at STL 12 Gostkowski to try 30 yard FGA
  • 4th drive from STL 46
  • 1st/10 Cassel to Moss for 30 yards to STL 16
  • 1st/10 Cassel to Faulk for 7 yards to STL 9
  • 3rd/3 from STL Gostkowski 27 yard FGA
  • 5th drive from NE 10
  • 3rd/9 from NE 11 Cassel throws 19 yards to Welker
  • 2nd/6 from NE 34 Cassel’s pass to Moss is tipped and intercepted by OJ Atogwe at the STL 45 and returned to the NE 43
  • 6th drive from NE 25
  • 1st/10 Cassel throws 9 yards to Thomas.  Ron Bartell hurt on play
  • 2nd/1 Green-Ellis runs for 2 yards for 1st down
  • 1st/10 Cassel throws screen to Welker for 25 yards
  • Matt Cassel reacts after throwing the game winning TD to Kevin Faulk in the 4th quarter. AP Photo. 1st/10 at at STL 44 Cassel intercepted by Fakhir Brown when Welker fell down at the STL 26 returned to STL 42
  • 7th drive from NE 32
  • 1st/10 Faulk runs for 8 yards
  • 2nd/8 Faulk runs for 4 yards and 1st down
  • 1st/10 from NE 44 Cassel thrown 11 yards to Welker
  • 2nd/5 at STL 40 Green-Ellis runs for 4 yards
  • 3rd/1 Green-Ellis stopped shy of 1st down
  • 4th/>1 Green-Ellis dropped for a loss STL takes over on downs at the STL 36
  • 8th drive from STL 49
  • 3rd/10 at STL 49 Cassel sacked by Chris Long at NE 43 NE to punt
  • 9th drive from NE 49
  • 1st/10 Faulk runs for 13 yards to STL 38
  • 1st/10 Cassel to Moss for 12 yards to STL 26
  • 1st/10 Moss drops ball in end zone
  • 2nd/10 Cassel forced out for 2 yard loss to STL 28
  • 3rd/12 cassel runs for 4 yards
  • 4th/8 Gostkowski 41 yard FGA
  • 10th drive from NE 47
  • 1st/10 Cassel sacked by Long at NE 39
  • 2nd/18 Cassel throws 23 yards to Moss to STL 38
  • 2nd/7 Faulk runs for 7 yards for 1st down at STL 28
  • 1st/10 Cassel to Moss for 8 yards
  • 2nd/2 Faulk runs 5 yards for 1st down at STL 15
  • 1st/10 Cassel throws 15 yards to Faulk for TD
  • 11th drive from STL 36
  • Cassel takes knees NE punts

Defensive Leaders/Notes

In addition to Seymour, Tedy Bruschi had 11 tackles and Adalius Thomas had 2 sacks and 7 tackles.

  • 1st series from STL 32
  • Richard Seymour sacks Marc Bulger AP Photo3rd/1 at STL 41 Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork stop Antonio Pittman for no gain
  • 4th/1 at STL 41 Pittman gets a little over a yard for first down stopped by Tedy Bruschi
  • 2nd/1 at NE 47 Pittman stopped short of 1st down by Bruschi
  • 1st/10 from NE 45 Marc Bulger throws 36 yards to Donnie Avery to NE 9 after poor tackle attempt by Deltha O’Neal. O’Neal injured on play.
  • 1st/goal at NE 9 Ellis Hobbs drops Pittman for 3 yard loss
  • 3rd/goal at NE 2 Bulger pass incomplete Josh Brown for 20 yard FGA
  • 2nd series at STL 12
  • 1st/10 at STL 12 Brandon Meriweather sniffs out screen Avery dropped no gain
  • 2nd/10 Bruschi stops Pittman for just a one yard gain to STL 13
  • 2nd/6 from STL 31 Bulger torches Hobbs and James Sanders throws to Avery for 69 yard TD
  • 3rd series from STL 20
  • 1st/10 at STL 20 Bulger’s pass tipped by Richard Seymour at the line
  • 2nd/10 Bulger under heavy pressure forced to throw the ball away
  • 3rd/10 Buler throws to Keenan Burton for 27 yards on Jonathan Wilhite to STL 47
  • 1st/10 at NE 41 Hobbs breaks up pass for Tory Holt, Hobbs injured on play
  • 2nd/10 Pittman runs for 18 yards to NE 23
  • Adalius Thomas sacks Rams QB Marc Bulger. Getty Photo. 1st/20 at NE 33 Adalius Thomas sacks Bulger for 13 yard loss to NE 46
  • 3rd/25 at NE 38 Seymour sacks Bulger at NE 40 STL to punt
  • 4th series from STL 13
  • 1st/10 Seymour stuff Dan Kreider for no gain at STL 13
  • 3rd/4 Thomas sacks Bulger at STL 5 STL to punt
  • 5th series from STL 41
  • 2nd/4 Bruschi stuffs Burton for no gain on end around at STL 47
  • 3rd/4 from STL 47 pass incomplete on good coverage by Jerod Mayo STL punts
  • 6th series from NE 43
  • 1st/10 Thomas stops Pittman for 2 yard gain
  • 2nd/7 from NE 30 Bulger pressured by Seymour throws ball away, holding penalty on play pushes ball to NE 40
  • 4th/4 Brown 44 yard FGA
  • 7th series from STL 42
  • 2nd/8 Thomas stops Pittman for 1 yard gain at STL 45
  • 4th/7 STL to punt
  • 8th series from STL 36
  • Hobbs torched by Avery for 44 yard catch on 1st down to NE 20
  • 3rd/6 Bulger throws to Pittman on Gary Guyton for 1st down at NE 10
  • 1st/goal at NE 10 Seymour and Bruschi stop Pittman for 1 yard loss
  • 2nd/goal Minor runs for 4 yards to NE 7
  • 3rd/goal Bulger over throws receiver in end zone
  • 4th/goal Brown for a 25 yard FGA
  • 9th series from STL 20
  • Rams go three and out and forced to punt
  • 10th series from STL 20
  • 1st/10 Warren sacks Bulger for 5 yard loss
  • 2nd/15 Hobbs breaks up big pass play downfield.  Hobbs injured on play.
  • 3rd/20 from STL 10 Bulger to Hall for 5 yards STL forced to punt
  • 11th series from STL 10
  • 1st/10 from STL 20 Bulger forced to throw ball away under pressure from Seymour
  • 2nd/10 from STL 37 Meriweather breaks up pass for Burton
  • 3rd/10 pass tipped and almost intercepted but caught by Hall for 1st down at STL 49
  • 1st/10 from STL 49 Minor dropped for 2 yard loss by Warren
  • 2nd/12 Bulger throws to Hall for 20 yards for 1st down at NE 33
  • 2nd/10 Patriots blitz Bulger who gets pasted by Seymour
  • 3rd/10 false start pushes ball back to NE 38
  • 3rd/15 Bulger intercepted by O’Neal who returns ball 46 yards to STL 37
  • 12th series from STL 20
  • Pittman runs for 12 yards game over

Special Teams Notes

  • KO to open game was returned 75 yards by STL Dante Hall but called back on a hold
  • Much better KO coverage on second kick Hall stopped at STL 12
  • NE punt team fails to pin STL inside 20 in 2nd quarter ball goes into end zone for touchback
  • KO coverage wraps up Hall at STL 13 after Gostkowski FG in 2nd qtr
  • NE poorly defenses STL onside kick to start 2nd half
  • 50 yard KOR by Hobbs after STL FG in 4th quarter give NE ball at STL 49
  • After tying game at 16-16 Gostkowski gets a touchback on KO

Coaching Decisions

  • STL – 4th/1 at STL 41 in 1st qtr Pittman gets first down
  • STL – on side kick starts the 2nd half
  • NE – 4th/>1 Green-Ellis stopped for a loss turn ball over on downs

Injuries

  • NE – CB Deltha O’Neal head injury in 1st quarter – returned
  • NE – CB Ellis Hobbs shoulder injury 2nd quarter – returned
  • STL – DL Leonard Little right leg injury in 2nd quarter – did not return
  • STL – CB Ron Bartlell shoulder injury in 3rd quarter – did not return
  • NE – RB Kevin Faulk back injury in 3rd quarter – returned
  • NE – Hobbs injures shoulder againin 4th quarter – did not return

The Officials

  • Scott Green was the referee.  He is not actor who played the son of Dr. Evil.
  • Whistle blown early in final minute before Cassel took knee allowing STL more time on clock drawing the ire of Belichick.

Game Notes

  • The Patriots wore their traditional blue home jersey.
  • Inactives for the Rams: RB Steven Jackson (injured – quad), DL Adam Carricker (injured – ankle), WR Drew Bennett (injured – foot), S Todd Johnson (injury – kidney), CB Tye Hill (injured – knee), G Roy Schuening, T John Greco and QB Brock Berlin (3rd QB).
  • Inactives for the Patriots: RB LaMont Jordan (injured – calf),  RB Sammy Morris (injured – knee), OLB Shawn Crable (injured – shin ), S Lewis Sanders (injured – hamstring),  DL Jarvis Green (injued – ankle),  RT Nick Kaczur (injured – ankle), LB Eric Alexander (injured – hamstring), and WR Matthew Slater (injured – ankle).
  • Note: The third quarterback can still enter the game at any time, but if he does so in the first, second or third quarters, the team can no longer use its top two quarterbacks the rest of the game.
  • Offensive starters for the Patriots:
    QB: Matt Cassel
    RB: BenJarvus Green-Ellis
    WR: Wes Welker
    WR: Randy Moss
    TE: Ben Watson
    TE: David Thomas
    LT: Matt Light
    LG: Logan Mankins
    C: Dan Koppen
    RG: Billy Yates
    RT: Mark LeVoir
  • Defensive starters for the Patriots:
    DE: Ty Warren
    NT: Vince Wilfork
    DE: Richard Seymour
    LB: Tedy Bruschi
    LB: Adalius Thomas
    LB: Jerod Mayo
    LB: Mike Vrabel
    CB: Ellis Hobbs
    CB: Deltha O’Neal
    S: James Sanders
    S: Brandon Meriweather
  • The Patriots won the toss and elected to defer.
  • This was St. Louis’ first visit ever to Gillette and their first game in Foxboro since 2001.
  • New England’s now 22-4 in the month since 2003.
  • he Patriots are 29-5 against the NFC since 2001 including 13 consecutive wins.  They are 6-1 against the NFC West since Belichick took over as coach.
  • Randy Moss caught his 800th NFL pass today he is the 19th player to do so.
  • Wes Welker has 12 consecutive games of catching 6 or more passes.
  • Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is now 3-1 against the Rams.
  • Since replacing Tom Brady, Matt Cassel is now 4-2 as a NFL starting QB.  Brady was also 4-2 after his first six starts.
  • Cassel also led his first career fourth quarter (or OT) comeback.  For perspective the injured guy has done it 28 times and his first one was in his third NFL start against San Diego.
  • The Rams scored first in a game for the first time all season.
  • The 69 yard TD pass by Marc Bulger to rookie WR Donnie Avery was the longest TD pass of his career.
  • New England scored twice in the final two minutes of the 1st half (2- field goals).
  • Matt Cassel was not sacked in the first half for the 1st time this season.
  • This was Moss’ 58th career 100 yard game, third all-time.
  • Cassell had a career high in passing yards with 267.

Post Game Press Conferences

Listen to what Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Matt Cassel had to say about the game.

Post game press conferences via patriots.com

Things To Work On For Next Week

Allowing big yardage pass plays and continuing to see improvement in Cassel.

Next Week’s Opponent

The Patriots will visit the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night at Lucas Oil Stadium at 8:15 p.m.