NFL Week 8 - Patriots 23, Rams 16

I haven't missed a Patriots game since the infamous "Bledsoe Injury" game of 2001. I can often tell you the 53rd man on their 53-man roster. I remember what color hoodie Bill Belichick wore during Super Bowl XXXIX. And yet, there were at least three instances in yesterday afternoon's game when I turned to my girlfriend and said, "I have no idea who the hell that is."

Her response was usually, "I bet they dragged him off the street this morning." They could have done exactly that, and it wouldn't have made a difference. Why? They somehow keep on winning. The Patriots are under an injury cloud the likes of which I've never seen before. They've lost perennial MVP -- and the best quarterback in the history of the game -- Tom Brady for at least this entire season, maybe more. Starting running back Laurence Maroney has been placed on Injured Reserve. Backs Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan were both inactive for yesterday's game. As a result, Matt Cassel -- whose name still makes me shudder a little -- has been your starting quarterback. Yesterday's starting running back? BenJarvis Green-Ellis, who I'm 83% sure played Alfonso Spears on "Silver Spoons."

All of this aside, they had to deal with the red-hot St. Louis Rams yesterday in Foxboro. The Rams have been a team who's apparently remembered how to play fundamentally sound football. Since new head coach Jim Haslett took the helm three weeks ago, the Rams have gone 2-0, handily beating playoff-bound clubs Washington and Dallas. Yet, with Deltha O'Neal and Ellis Hobbs missing the vast majority of the contest, the Patriots defense managed to shut down the Marc Bulger-led Rams offensive attack.

Matt Cassel, somehow, managed to throw for almost 300 yards, and Randy Moss eclipsed the 100-yard mark on his own, while also grabbing his 800th career reception. The Patriots offense overcame a few of its own inconsistencies, as Moss and Wes Welker both dropped simple passes.

As a result of this game, as a Pats fan, you have to feel good. I understand that this season is never going to feel right without Tom Brady. I've come to terms with that. However, considering all the mistakes and injuries they overcame yesterday (and the entire season in general), you can't help but feel a bit more confident today than you did after the Week 1 victory over Kansas City. Matt Cassel is maturing before our eyes as a legitimate NFL quarterback, the defensive unit is functioning well with some forcefully-injected youth, and Randy Moss hasn't quit on the team yet. That's got to be worth something.

Next Sunday night will be a big, big test: a nationally televised game in Indianapolis against the Colts, who haven't looked like themselves for one moment this season. Peyton Manning's offensive line has given him roughly half-a-second to think before throwing the ball, their running game is non-existent, and the defense is a shell of what they were during their Super Bowl run of 2006. The Colts are 3-3 as of this morning, and face 6-0 Tennessee on the road tonight. Indianapolis could very well be a sub-.500 team when the Patriots take the field six days from now. If Cassel can lead the New England boys to victory, we might have a reason to get excited again.

Player of the Game: Wes Welker (WR, New England). Without him, Cassel would've been in deep trouble. He's become the new Troy Brown.

-- Dan Zappulla, Feeling Optimistic.