Cassel had a game fit for a king

FOXBOROUGH n If this was Matt Cassel?s coming-out party, he picked the right time.Cassel, like the rest of the New England Patriots, had a dreadful game last Sunday in San Diego. Monday night, things were different. He may have been sacked six more times (up to 25 for the season), but he also threw for three touchdowns and didn?t turn the ball over.But he wouldn?t say whether Monday night?s game n a 41-7 romp over the Denver Broncos n represented a quantum leap in his development.?I?d like to think that I continue to grow each and every week,” he said. “The more you run this offense, the more comfortable you become. There are a lot of details that you have to be on top of if you want to be successful, and each and every week I learn something and just try to continue to grow and mature.”Finally, Monday, he seemed to connect with receiver Randy Moss, who had five catches for 69 yards, and two touchdowns (128 for his career, fourth best in NFL history).?It?s nice,” he said. “If I throw it to him, and he catches it, that?s always a good thing, and especially to get that touchdown. And for him n on the screen that we threw n to break a tackle and do that ? he?s just a versatile player and the more we can get him the ball, the better.”Moss usually isn?t one for screens. He?s the deep threat. But he?d been pining to try it, and the Patriots finally let him this week.?It was something we worked on for the last couple of weeks, and it finally paid off,” he said. “So I told (Belichick) whenever I get that slip screen I?m going to try to take it to the house. Luckily, it happened.”The touchdown n the second of the second quarter n upped the Patriots? lead to 20-0 and just about made the entire second half academic.?It (the screen) was something we?d talked about during the week,” Cassel said. “It was something we felt we could get some production out of throughout the course of the week, so we went to it a bit more in the second half.”When Tom Brady tore his ACL in the first game of the season. Belichick went with Cassel without hesitation. He gave Cassel another vote of confidence this week.?I?ve always felt like Bill has backed me,” Cassel said. “That?s one of the reasons I?m here right now, and one of the reasons I?m playing. He?s continued to show confidence in me, whether it?s in practice, whether it?s in a game.?Having his boost of confidence definitely gives me a boost of confidence,” he said. “Obviously, he knows the game of football n he?s been around it for a while n so it?s great to have that support.”