New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel completed 30/43 pass attempts for a total of 415 yards, including 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception as the Patriots destroyed the Miami Dolphins Sunday 48-28. Cassel’s new BFF receiver Randy Moss had 8 receptions for 125 yards, and all 3 touchdowns. New England also had two touchdowns via the ground one by the QB.

Cassel picked up Sunday where he had left off on November 14, when he rallied his team from being down 24-6 to the New York Jets to tie the game in the fourth at 31-31. New England would lose the contest in over time when Jets kicker Jay Feely kicked a 34 yard field goal in the overtime to give New York the win and possession of first place in the AFC East.

If the Patriots do make the NFL Playoffs this season, I think it would be only fair if kicker Stephen Gostkowski got an extra share of the money awarded to players for playing in the post season.  In a sport that does not truthfully consider kickers “real players” Gostkowski has in many ways been New England’s most consistent player.

Gostkowski put the Pats on the board with 10:08 remaining in the first as he kicked a 30 yard field goal making it a 3-0 game. Miami quarterback Chad Pennington, whose own great performance almost got lost in this game connected with Greg Camarillo on a 3 yard pass for a touchdown with 5:23 let in the quarter. The point after kick by Dan Carpenter was good, and the Dolphins led 7-3 at the end of the quarter.

Cassel put the Patriots back on top as he ran 8 yards for a touchdown, with the extra point it was a 10-7 game with 14:54 to go in the half. Pennington responded with a 7 yard run of his own over the goal line. Carpenter’s kick put the Jets ahead 14-10 with 5:05 left in the quarter. Cassel hit Randy Moss with a 25 yard pass for a touchdown. With the kick by Gostkowski sailing through the goal posts, New England took back the lead 17-14 with 2:14 to play in the half. The Patriots would take the lead with them into the locker room at halftime.

The Dolphins got the first score of the second half, when Casey Cramer got a 2 yard pass from Pennington, the extra point was good and Miami led 21-17 with 11:28 in the third. New England then proceeded to put some distance between themselves and the “Fish“ as Randy Moss caught an 8 yard pas for a touchdown. Gostkowski’s kick put the Patriots back in the lead at 24-21 with 6:21 remaining. Kevin Falk would end the quarter with a flourish as he ran 21 yards for a touchdown with time expiring on the clock, with the extra point New England led 31-21 at the end of three quarters.

Ricky Williams got the Dolphins back into the contest as he grabbed a 13 yard pass running it in for a touchdown. Carpenter once again kicked the point after, and the score was 31-21. New England then shut down Miami, and piled on the points. Moss caught touchdown pass number three this one for 29 yards, the extra point put the Pats ahead 38-28 with 8:52 left to play. Gostkowski kicked a 30 yard field goal making it 41-28 7:08 remaining in the game. The “Law-Firm“  rookie running back Benjarvus Green-Ellis ran 1 yard over the goal line for yet another touchdown. Gostkowski once again kicked the extra point with 37 seconds left and the final score would be Patriots 48 Dolphins 28.

Pennington completed 24/41 passes for 341 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 pick. The victory for the Patriots avenges the loss in Foxborough to Miami early in the campaign. With the Jets beating previously undefeated Tennessee Sunday, the Pats remain second in the AFC East with a record of 7-4. They will host Pittsburgh next Sunday. The Dolphins are now 6-5, they will play next Sunday in St. Louis.

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