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Cassel-to-Moss connection carries Patriots past Dolphins

Nov 23, 2008 - 11:29 PM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) - Matt Cassel threw for 415 yards and Randy Moss caught three touchdown passes to lead the New England Patriots to a 48-28 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Cassel completed 30-of-43 passes en route to his second consecutive 400-yard performance - the first quarterback to accomplish that since Tennessee's Billy Volek in December 2004.

"I'm happy about it, there's no doubt," Cassel said. "I'm just happy about the fact that we were able to win and put together a great outing today. I think the production is starting to come around and that's a good thing for us."

Moss, who was primarily left in single coverage, caught eight passes for 125 yards, both season highs, Wes Welker added eight receptions for 120 yards and Jabar Gaffney had 88 yards receiving as the Patriots avenged a 38-13 beating by the Dolphins in Week Three.

"I don't know why (Miami coach Tony Sparano) was disrespecting me like that," said Moss of the single coverage. "I am who I am and I love to do what I do. Anytime I feel disrespected then I want to go out there and make it happen.

"I think they disrespected me today by really playing me single coverage and really letting me have fun and do what I do, which is get in that end zone."

With the win, New England (7-4) remained one game behind the New York Jets (8-3) for the lead in the AFC East Division. The Jets (8-3) defeated previously unbeaten Tennessee.

"We were very confident coming in here," Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said. "A lot of people doubted us, a lot of people didn't expect us to win, but we shocked them all."

Miami (6-5) had a four-game winning streak snapped despite Chad Pennington throwing for 341 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for another.

"I think this is a time for our team to look at each other and it is a gut check," Pennington said. "I think we will respond and do what it takes to get back in this thing."

Moss' three touchdown receptions gave him 132 for his career, surpassing Cris Carter for third on the NFL's all-time list for receiving scores. The 31-year-old wide receiver trails only Jerry Rice (197) and Terrell Owens (136).

"He's been making plays for a long time and has made a lot of good ones," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "He's a great player. We have seen him do it time and again and he continues to do it. He's been doing it for a long time."

The game turned ugly following a 30-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski to give the Patriots a 41-28 lead with 8:35 left.

Patriots left tackle Matt Light and Miami's Channing Crowder were ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct. After Crowder's helmet came off, Light grabbed Crowder's hair and punched Crowder in the head. As Crowder left the field, he smiled and waved to the crowd.

"We hate to see that," Belichick said. "That's not anything we want to be a part of. We want to make our statement on the field with the way we are playing."

Renaldo Hill intercepted Cassel to set up Miami's first touchdown. Pennington found David Martin for 29 yards immediately after the interception and, three plays later, he hit Greg Camarillo in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown giving the Dolphins a 7-3 lead.

Cassel and Pennington each traded touchdown runs before Cassel threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Moss to give New England a 17-14 lead just before halftime.

"He's playing some hellified ball," Moss said of Cassel. "He's stepping up and we're behind him."

Pennington found Ted Ginn for a 46-yard pass on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. Later on the drive, Pennington delivered a 2-yard scoring pass to Casey Cramer, who scored his first career touchdown.

"For three quarters and a half, we're slugging it out there in a big game, to where I think anybody could have won the game," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said."

Moss' second touchdown of the day, an 8-yard reception, gave the Patriots a 24-21 lead. Kevin Faulk's 21-yard touchdown run stretched the lead to 31-21. The run was set up by Welker, who had a career-long 64-yard reception. Welker caught a short pass in the middle of the field before racing up the sideline for the long gain.

After a touchdown pass to Ricky Williams, Cassel connected with Moss for the third time as on a 29-yard touchdown pass to give the Patriots a 38-28 lead with 8:52 remaining in the game.

"Just a normal day at the office," Moss said.

Brandon Meriweather intercepted a pass from Pennington to set up Gostkowski's 30-yard field goal.

"That right there kind of took the air out of them," Meriweather said.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis capped the scoring for the Patriots with a 1-yard touchdown run.