Could Pats be without Cassel vs. Raiders?
Sunday’s game in Oakland seemed like a slam dunk win for the New England Patriots, who are fighting for their playoff lives and in a three-way tie atop the AFC East.
However, the shape of this game could change big time if Pats QB Matt Cassel doesn’t play, which is a possibility after his father died earlier this week. Cassel left the team on Wednesday, and Coach Bill Belichick said he didn’t know when Cassel would rejoin the team or whether he would be able to start Sunday against the Raiders.
New England is currently a 7-point favorite on WagerWeb.com, but that line could shift dramatically downward.
“Right now we’re just taking it day to day,” Belichick said. “He’s going to take care of what he has to do.”
Not to be harsh, but the Pats caught a break in that they are practicing and playing in California this week. Cassel’s father, Greg, lived in San Bernardino, Calif., meaning logistically it might be easier for Cassel to rejoin the team being as he is in Southern California (where he is from) with his family. The funeral is scheduled for Monday, so in theory Cassel could play and still attend, although one wonders if his heart would really be into football.
Cassel has come on in recent weeks (the Steelers loss aside) and has completed 64 percent of his passes since taking over for the injured Tom Brady in the season opener. He has thrown for 3,052 yards, with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
If Cassel can’t go, the team would likely turn to rookie Kevin O’Connell, who has four career NFL passes. His only action came near the end of the Week 3 blowout loss to Miami in Foxboro, completing 3-of-4 passes for 25 yards. The only other quarterback on the Patriots’ roster is Matt Gutierrez.
“I haven’t really seen much on the field as far as game-time situations, so we’ll find out together,” New England’s Ellis Hobbs said of O’Connell, who has been taking the first-team snaps since Cassel left the team. “As far as practice, he definitely has a strong arm on him. He can throw the deep ball, can throw the intermediate routes. Just like any quarterback we have, man, they’re great in the system and can go and put the ball wherever we need to and let the skill players do the rest.”
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