Welker, Stallworth prove Patriots have more than Moss at WR

Oct 15, 2007 - 9:46 PM By Kevin Pedersen PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

It was being billed as the 'Duel in Dallas' - the undefeated New England Patriots against the undefeated Dallas Cowboys.

Star quarterback Tom Brady was set to square off with rising star Tony Romo, throwing to two of the top five all-time receiving touchdown leaders - Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.

But when the highest-rated audience for an NFL game on CBS in almost nine years tuned in Sunday afternoon, it was a pair of Patriots receivers who don't wear No. 81 that stole the show.

Donte' Stallworth and Wes Welker combined for 18 catches, 260 yards and three touchdowns in New England's 48-27 pounding of Dallas, leaving the Patriots as the lone 6-0 team in the NFL.

Meanwhile, Moss caught six passes for just 59 yards and a touchdown while Owens had six catches for 66 yards and a score - not exactly the numbers many people were expecting.

"Never in my career, have I really gotten into that (personal battles)," Moss said. "You know who T.O. is. I just wanted to do what I could to help my team win this game.

"I didn't want to feed off what he saying or the hype over the game between the two 81s. I don't really buy into that. I've got a job to do, and that's to try to catch touchdowns and get first downs."

Entering with just 12 catches for 180 yards in his first five games this season, Stallworth had seven receptions for 136 yards Sunday. The speedster hauled in the key 69-yard touchdown that gave the Patriots a 38-24 lead with 12:21 left.

Welker had never recorded a 100-yard receiving game or caught double-digit passes in his four-year career. But the 5-9 slot receiver accomplished both against the Cowboys, catching 11 passes for 124 yards while doubling his career touchdown total to four.

"With Randy out there, they're going to pay a lot of attention to him," Welker said. "Donte', Ben (Watson) and the rest of us really have to do well to get open for Tom (Brady)."

After losing to the eventual champion Indianapolis Colts in the AFC title game last season, the Patriots made big changes to their receiving corps.

Like Moss, Welker and Stallworth were also acquired before the season began.

Welker was traded from Miami for a second- and seventh-round pick in early March and Stallworth was signed as a free agent just over a week later.

"(Welker) is a threat anytime he's out there," Brady said. "He's elusive, he's very quick, he's very smart and he makes a lot of guys miss."

However, it was the draft-day trade for Moss that made the most headlines, and after he recorded 100-yard games in his first four contests, Stallworth and Welker had started to become an afterthought.

But Brady used all of his weapons Sunday, throwing five touchdown passes to four different receivers and helping New England put up its highest point total since 1984.

"Tom's not going to stick on one guy," Welker said. "He's constantly looking at the whole field and reading the coverage.

"I have to read it at the same time. He's unbelievable. His preparation, his leadership and everything he does is text book."

Brady has thrown for 21 touchdowns and two interceptions through the team's first six games. And although Moss leads New England in all the major receiving categories, Sunday's performance showed opponents that he isn't the only receiver the Patriots have.