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The New England Patriots knew that they had to keep the offense simple and safe for quarterback Matt Cassel on Sunday. Cassel threw short, dinking and dunking his way to a 19-10 victory over the New York Jets in the Meadowlands.

Chad Pennington would have been proud.

Cassel didn't complete any long balls. He tried once, when WR Randy Moss blew past CB Darrelle Revis early in the fourth quarter for what should have been an easy touchdown. Moss had to turn around and wait for Cassel's underthrown ball and dropped with Revis closing hard.

The Patriots won because Cassel got the ball to his targets with short tosses and let them run with it.

Cassel threw beyond the first-down marker only three times (two completions) and into the end zone only three times (zero completions). Three of those six attempts were on third down. The other three came on first down, including the dropped bomb to Moss.

* Statistics compiled by ESPN Research.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Randy Moss, engulfed by reporters and cameras, stood in front of his locker stall and delivered a message to the world.

His New England Patriots went into the Meadowlands as underdogs on Sunday. They didn't have quarterback Tom Brady. Many observers figured the game would signal a power shift in the AFC East because the New York Jets supposedly had become the team to beat.

	Rich Kane/US Presswire
	New England quarterback Matt Cassel didn't make any major mistakes in a solid first start for the Patriots.

"I don't think there's one person in my face with a microphone that picked us to win today," Moss said with a gloating smile. "So I'm going to go ahead and end [the interview]. The Patriots, two and oh. We got one in the division. So all you haters, keep hating. We coming."

The Patriots beat the Jets 19-10 to run their regular-season streak to 21 victories. They've also beaten the Jets eight straight times in the Meadowlands. They will play host to the Miami Dolphins in Foxborough, Mass., next week.

Although the Patriots proved predictions usually are worthless in the NFL, it seems a safe bet they'll be 3-0 going into their bye week. The Dolphins are 0-2 after getting dismantled by the Arizona Cardinals.

The Patriots also have the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams among their first seven opponents. Another lopsided record should be expected heading into November.

Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel wasn't sensational, but he was good enough in his first start since high school. He completed 16 of 23 throws for 165 yards and no touchdowns. He didn't throw any interceptions. He had an 89.9 passer rating.

Cassel's teammates were unanimous in their praise of No. 16, who was unflappable all afternoon.

"He took us to the promised land in Week 2, and that's a victory," cornerback Ellis Hobbs said. "Every week you look forward to a victory. How you get there, you never know. He's a leader over there now. He's a guy we're looking toward to make plays on offense."

Said New England Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour: "You want your quarterback to play with emotion, but the emotion didn't play him."

Cassel bemoaned some missed opportunities and a few erroneous reads. But he made one less major mistake than future Hall of Famer Brett Favre did for the Jets.

"Let's hope that a lot of quarterbacks do that throughout the rest of the year," Cassel said of Favre's interception. "He's a great quarterback, and it was fun to compete against him. I remember watching him growing up. It'll be a memorable first start for me."

Favre's glaring error happened in the third quarter, with the Patriots ahead 6-3. He was intercepted by safety Brandon Meriweather at the Jets 24-yard line.

"I saw the guy," Favre said of Meriweather. "Maybe I got a little greedy."

Six plays later, the Patriots scored their only touchdown, a Sammy Morris leap into the end zone for a comfortable 13-3 lead with 6:20 left in the third quarter.

The Jets scored their only touchdown on their first drive of the fourth quarter. Favre completed all six of his passes for 51 yards, including a touch pass to a wide-open Chansi Stuckey from the 2.

But one impressive drive wasn't going to be enough. Not nearly.

The Patriots were the better team in so many ways. The Jets wasted seven points with a missed 31-yard Jay Feely field-goal attempt on the opening drive and their inability to punch the ball into the end zone after getting first-and-goal from the Patriots' 3-yard line in the second quarter. They settled for a field goal.

New England's special teams were dominant. Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski not only drilled four field goals, but he also recorded five touchbacks on kickoffs.

The Jets' average start was on their 21-yard line. The Patriots' average start was on their 42.

The Patriots also were more disciplined. They had two penalties for 10 insignificant yards.

The Jets committed six penalties for 60 yards and had a couple more declined. Their costly calls included 12 men on the field, a pass from beyond scrimmage, roughing the passer and a facemask on a Cassel scramble for no gain.

"I think we as a team should see there's a lot of room for improvement," Favre said. "But we're not far off. When we'll turn that corner, I have no idea. We battled back and did some good things, but ultimately we didn't score enough points."

In the visitors locker room, the Patriots were feeling vindicated as a team and not a bunch of supporting cast members made to look good by one leading man.

They want you to know the Patriots still are the team to beat, and they'd just proved it.

"This team was going to come down and do what they did today regardless of what anybody else thinks," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "That is who they are, and that is their job.

"I don't think it really matters what you think. That's just what they are going to do, regardless."

The Jets -- and the world -- were reminded of that Sunday.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- For those who thought the New York Jets were the new team to beat in the AFC East, think again.

The New England Patriots reminded everyone the division still needs to come through them even without QB Tom Brady. The Patriots beat the Jets 19-10 on Sunday at the Meadowlands.

The Patriots have won 21 straight regular-season games and seven in a row over the Jets at the Meadowlands.

Both teams displayed rough edges on offense, scoring no touchdowns in the first half and just one apiece in the second half. But the Patriots controlled the game through field position and smarter decisions.

That the Patriots won even though WR Randy Moss had only two catches for 22 yards and starting RB Laurence Maroney had eight carries for 16 yards and is testament to their all-around effort.

Patriots QB Matt Cassel didn't look like a Pro Bowler, but that was unnecessary. He completed 16 of 23 passes for 165 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Jets didn't score a touchdown until their first drive of the fourth quarter. Brett Favre completed 18 of 26 passes for 181 yards, one touchdown and one ugly interception that set up the Patriots on the Jets 31-yard line for their lone touchdown.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- There's not a whole lot to write about through the first 30 minutes of Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and New York Jets in the Meadowlands.

The Patriots lead 6-3, with the difference so far a missed 31-yard Jay Feely field-goal attempt. Feely's try soared wide right. He was signed this week to kick for Mike Nugent, who's out with a thigh injury.

The Patriots made a fine goal-line stand in the second quarter. The Jets had a first down at the Patriots' 3-yard line but had to settle for a 21-yard Feely field goal.

Patriots QB Matt Cassel, in his first start since high school in 1999, is 9 of 13 for 96 yards and no interceptions. He hasn't been able to utilize star WR Randy Moss (one catch for 8 yards).

Jets QB Brett Favre's home debut has been about the same. He is 8 of 13 for 99 yards and no interceptions. He has been sacked once.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New England Patriots QB Matt Cassel might have one less weapon at his disposal. RB Laurence Maroney is out of the game against the New York Jets with a shoulder injury. His return is questionable.

Maroney hasn't carried the ball since early in the second quarter. He has seven attempts for 17 yards.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Brett Favre's playing conditions were more pleasant last week in South Florida.

It's hot and humid at the Meadowlands, where the New York Jets will host the New England Patriots. An hour before kickoff the temperature already is 90 degrees. The humidity makes it feel more like 96 degrees, according to the Weather Channel. Skies are hazy.

Conditions apparently are good for field goals. Jay Feely, filling in for injured Jets K Mike Nugent, is making kicks from as deep as 60 yards. Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski made tries from 60 and 63 yards.

On July 30, I spoke with New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel after a training camp session outside Gillette Stadium. We mostly talked about life as a backup behind an NFL icon.

Circumstances certainly have changed since then. Tom Brady is done for the year, and Cassel this afternoon will make his first start at quarterback since high school. He'll face the New York Jets in the Meadowlands.

With an updated context, that interview with Cassel provides insight into his mental preparation for what has, in fact, gone down.

On the day of the interview, Brady didn't practice and was nowhere to be seen.

How does your day change when Tom Brady's not taking the first-team snaps?

Cassel: It's one of those things where it is what you make of it. I plan on being the backup quarterback, and I come out here every day and I get ready as if I'm the starter. Today was one of those days because Tom didn't go. So I took all the No. 1 snaps. It's good for me to get those snaps. Those are quality snaps you can't emulate as the No. 2 a lot of times.

I try to make it the same as if he was out there. I try and go out there and execute the offense. I've been in the offense now for four years. I'm pretty familiar with everything that's going on. I know all the players and where I want to go with the ball. If I can make it as similar as it is when he's out there, then that's good for me.

How do you deal with being stuck behind a legend?

Cassel: I work really hard and I take great pride in what I do. I feel like I'm trying to take that next step and become a star in the NFL, and the only way to do that is to continue to get better each and every year and continue to come out and perform. I feel like I'm throwing the ball really well right now.

How long is Tom Brady's shadow? Does it ever get discouraging?

Cassel: I come out with the intent of kicking his (butt) every day. If I can go out there and try to outperform him on certain days that means I'm getting better. Every day I get to compare myself to the best. That's a great thing for me because it pushes me to be the best I can possibly be. Each and every day I get to do drills with him and compete with him and beat him out in every drill.

Do you wonder if you'll ever get the chance to be an NFL starter?

Cassel: You always have to be thinking about your opportunity. You always have to be ready. I have big hopes and big dreams and aspirations to do great things in the NFL. I'd be lying if I said I was content to be a backup quarterback the rest of my career.

Do you think your opportunity will have to come elsewhere and not in a Patriots uniform?

Cassel: You never know. Tom probably never anticipated starting here with Drew Bledsoe here. If somebody was to tell you Tom Brady would be take over Drew Bledsoe's job the third game of the year and led the team to the Super Bowl. It just goes to show you have to prepare. There are guys throughout the NFL that get the chance one way or the other.

How much of a wake-up call would it be if something were to happen to Tom Brady?

Cassel: If it happens, I'll be ready to go.