You know what was funny? Right after QB Tom Brady collapsed to the ground after the hit by KC safety Bernard Pollard, my first impulse was, "OK, so he's hurt. Bring in Drew Bledsoe!" That was a good memory because the Patriots still beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship and Brady returned to play in Super Bowl XXXVI.
It's not the same script this week as it looks like Brady won't be back next week, in two weeks, or this year. Granted, the team hasn't said it yet. That comes just before noon. But I just want the Patriots to hurry up and get it over with.
Pardon me if I'm not in mourning. There's no need crying over spilled milk. It's football. Major injuries are part of the game.
I also know it's not the same. I've lowered my expectations from 14 wins and a guaranteed spot in the Super Bowl.
But this season is far from done. 10 wins is still very possible with this weak schedule. It will just be a lot harder. But I have faith in this coaching staff and the players that they can play well week in and week out, and win more than they lose. I know the loss of Brady is huge, but there are 52 other players that will make a difference this year.
And the difference-makers start with Matt Cassel, the guy all Pats fans (myself included) felt should had been cut before the season. It's understandable. Based on what we saw in the preseason, Cassel looked like garbage for the most part. But the coaches knew that he was making the right decisions most of the time. It's the kind of insight we lack because we don't know the plays, we don't see the whole field, and we don't see how he performs in practice.
But we got a good look at Cassel in a real game and he wasn't the guy we saw in four exhibition games (thankfully). He didn't blow us away, but Cassel was good enough, leading the offense to two touchdowns and a field goal. It was just enough for the Patriots and the defense made it hold.
What we saw on Sunday was the guy that backed-up Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC. Cassel competed with both of them to be the starter in two defferent seasons. But in close competitions according to Trojans coach and former Patriots coach Pete Carroll, Cassel came up short both times.
The question is which one is Cassel more like? Will he play a solid game and get the ball to his talented play-makers like Palmer in Cincinnati or will Cassel fail to use all of his ability like Leinart in Arizona?
We don't know yet, but understand this: the coaching staff will change the offense to fit Cassel like they did for Brady when he had to start for Bledsoe. The offense will get simplified and designed to take advantage of Cassel's strengths. There's too many great players on the Patriots to think one loss, no matter the player, would completely cripple them, Brady included.
For the rest of the season, it's not Brady and Brady's Bunch. It's Matt Cassel and the Knights of Gillette Stadium. The kingdom hasn't fallen yet. There's still a lot of fight in this dynasty.
