30-10, San Diego...and it really wasn't even that close.
As a Pats fan, I'll take my lumps. I'm not going to bash a team that's given me three Super Bowls, four AFC Championships, two record regular-season consecutive-win streaks, and a perfect regular season for having a tough year.
But at the same time, I'll call a spade a spade.
Cassel's inexperience showed tonight, especially as he failed to find the end zone again when it counted with the goal line stand in the third quarter. It was disconcerting to see the lost look in his eyes after his abortive fourth-down scramble.
But even more disconcerting was seeing Dan Koppen lifted bodily off the line of scrimmage on the previous down, and flung into Sammy Morris by San Diego nose tackle Jamal Williams. Koppen was also manhandled by Williams on Cassel's next run, and Morris ran around confusedly instead of blocking effectively for the QB.
Most disconcerting of all? Defensive backs. From Phillip Rivers' first pass finding Malcolm Floyd for 49 yards to the end zone to Ellis Hobbs' devastating pass-interference penalty on the series following the goal line stand, our defensive backfield was carved up by the Chargers today.
The Patriots were outplayed in just about every dimension of the game, and while I still believe Cassel can improve, the O-line* and DBs seem to be a much thornier and more multifaceted issue (though I don't need to see any more to know I could do without Deltha O'Neal). Let's not forget this O-line was blown off the ball and this defensive secondary victimized at the end of last season, too, with Brady at the helm.
Last week, against a relatively weak 9ers squad, the Pats looked well-organized if not flashy. It's best not to get too high or too low on the team in a season like this, especially over a single game. But tonight they looked like they might no longer be able to hang with the high flyers of the league.
*From the "also not helping" department: a serious-looking ankle injury to Nick Kaczur.
The cassel experiment was cute but now its time to move on. The pats are a good enough team to have a decent season, but it will be ruined unless the qb position is replaced now. Dauntae Culppper has a rocket arm and Im sure he wouldnt mind joining a solid team. The Pats are too good to let this season be a waste which is the direction its headed in with cassel at qb.
Posted by: b. weeks | October 13, 2008 at 06:14
18-1!
Posted by: Tom Brady | October 13, 2008 at 07:39
The game did look horrible! You're exactly correct Beth. Both sides of the ball performed poorly. I was in S.F. for the game and was one of the early callers for Cassels replacement. I would rather see Gutierrez (sp) being given a shot than bringing in an outsider. Cassel has had 4 yrs to pick it up and all during preseason we got to watch him mis-manage the offense and had hoped that when he took over in game 1 that we wouldn't see a repeat but we unfortunately are. Defense? Has anyone heard Bruschis name associated with a good D stand? Vrable, Thomas... Nope... about the only time we hear the names on defense is when we're getting assessed another penalty. Poor self discipline and we seem to be floundering like a ship with out a captain.
Posted by: Marc | October 13, 2008 at 17:56