Patriots win a headline writer's dream

By Gerard Gallagher Sep 11, 2007, 19:42 GMT

- I used to work at a magazine. One morning, the editor announced a headline-writing contest for the interns, offering lunch as a reward for the best suggestion for an article about gerrymandering.

He would have had less trouble coming up with a headline for the New England Patriots' 38-14 win over the New York Jets on Sunday. It was a dominating performance that erased the bad-taste loss to the Colts in last season's playoffs, and all but assured us the AFC East is a one-team race.

As if we didn't know that already.

'PATRIOTS GATHER NO MOSS IN WIN OVER JETS'

Different versions of this headline were used in a couple of places, but we like this one. The Patriots rolled -- flat-out rolled -- over the Jets, and if that was the top story, the regular-season debut of Randy Moss in a Patriots jersey was not far behind.

In catching nine passes for 183 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, Moss dispelled the notion that he was no longer one of the NFL's best receivers.

A hamstring injury kept the draft-day acquisition from seeing much action in training camp, and there was at least some speculation that he wouldn't start the season -- and even that he would be cut.

Moss said he was never more anxious or nervous before a game.

'I've been in the league long enough that catching balls and running after the catch comes natural,' he said. 'The biggest thing that I wanted to focus on this week was making sure my mind was fresh and tough enough to play because I hadn't played this season. I didn't want to let my team down or put them back, so I just wanted to go out, see what I had and give them my all.'

'PATRIOTS' DAY'

We didn't come across this one Sunday night, but we're pretty sure it was out there somewhere. It's fitting, too, because is was a good day for old Patriots on both sides of the ball -- players who have been with the team for each of their three Super Bowl wins.

Tom Brady threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns on 22-of-28 passing. He hit seven different receivers in the win, a passing game performance that surprised exactly no one.

Brady connected with Moss for a 51-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to give New England a 28-7 lead and all but seal the win.

'He was a great player before he got to the Patriots. Obviously, he's still a great player,' Brady said of Moss.

(Moss just as easily could have said about his new quarterback: 'He was a great player before I got here. Obviously, he's still a great player.')

Seventh-year Patriot Mike Vrabel collected six tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble as the New England defense held the Jets to just 227 net yards. The linebacker was also one of two Pats defenders to line up on offense in the game.

'They beat us in all three phases,' said Jets quarterback Chad Pennington. 'When you play a really good team, you have to find an edge, and we didn't have any edge today.'

'THERE GOES ELLIS HOBBS ...'

... the best kick returner there ever was.

Well, not quite. Hobbs ran back the second-half kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown to set an NFL record, beating the previous mark by two yards. It also tied the record for longest touchdown in league history, set previously by Chicago's Nathan Vasher in 2005 and matched by the Bears' Devin Hester last season (they were both missed field goal returns).

It gave the Patriots a 21-7 lead, beginning the rout. Hobbs said he understood the danger of taking the kickoff out from so deep in his team's end zone.

'One false step and I could have been a zero. But I ended up being the hero. I wanted to bring those 10 other guys (on the return team) with me ... I knew it was a risk, but this isn't college or high school. They pay me to return kicks, not kneel the ball. I didn't even think about kneeling the ball.'

The Patriots were still making headlines on Monday, dubious as they were ...

'THEY STILL STEAL SIGNS, DON'T THEY?'

Like the one above it, this one is all us.

The NFL was investigating claims a Patriots employee was using a video camera on the sideline Sunday to steal signs from Jets defensive coaches, according to multiple published reports.

The league does not permit recording devices on the sideline, in the coaches booths or in the locker rooms, and the Patriots could stand to lose one or more draft picks if the allegations prove to be true.

'It's not their first time,' a member of the league's competition committee told ESPN.com on Monday.

UP NEXT:

The Patriots play their first home game of the season on Sunday night, welcoming the San Diego Chargers to Gillette Stadium in the first meeting between the teams since San Diego's 41-17 win in Week 4 of the 2005 season.

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