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Patriots look to continue December run with Cassel

Dec 10, 2008 - 11:06 PM New England (8-5) at Oakland (3-10) 4:15 pm EST

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The New England Patriots have been nearly unbeatable in December, but that was with reigning MVP Tom Brady under center.

Matt Cassel is off to a pretty good start as well, and will look to help the Patriots keep pace in a tight AFC East Division race against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Thanks mostly in part to Brady, the Patriots have gone 21-2 in December since 2003. But Brady is at home rehabbing his torn ACL and MCL and cannot do anything but offered words of encouragement for Cassel.

A two-time Super Bowl MVP, Brady's absence is a big reason the Patriots have gone from a near- perfect season to a three-way tie with the New York Jets (8-5) and Miami Dolphins (8-5) for the division lead.

Cassel won his first December start by completing 26-of-44 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown as the Patriots rallied for a 24-21 win over Seattle last week. Sammy Morris scored the go-ahead TD from 1 yard out on fourth down with 2:44 left.

Cassel will have more than a game on his mind this week, after his father Greg died on Wednesday. Cassel planned to return home to his native Northridge, California, but should play this game.

His favorite target last week was Wes Welker, who caught 12 passes for 134 yards to help the Patriots rebound from a damaging loss to Pittsburgh that left them on the outside looking in at the postseason picture.

"A huge win," Cassel said. "We knew the season was on the line and we had to come up here and take care of business in order to put us in position to still be in that playoff hunt."

Cassel and the Patriots have a favorable schedule the rest of the way. New England hosts Arizona, which already has wrapped up the NFC West, and visits Buffalo after this one.

"We have a chance," Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs said. "All you can ask for. It's really coming down to the last three games. Everybody needs to play as if these are the last downs, because for this season, it is."

The Raiders' season was over months ago. A 34-7 loss to San Diego last week Oakland of its sixth straight double-digit loss season. The Raiders are 22-71 since losing Super Bowl XXXVII to Tampa Bay.

This game will mark the return of mercurial wide receiver Randy Moss to Oakland. Moss spent two drama-filled seasons with the Raiders before being traded to New England for a fourth-round pick on Draft Day in 2007 - one of the biggest steals in NFL history.

Moss went on to set an NFL record with 23 touchdowns, helping the Patriots to within one win of a perfect season. The six-time Pro Bowler has 61 catches for 841 yards and eight touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the Raiders selected Cincinnati cornerback John Bowie, who is currently on injured reserve.