Shots Heard 'Round The Web - Patriots Links 11/21/08

TEAM SHOTS

• Patriots players continue to game plan for Miami's Wildcat offense. Plus, news and notes from Thursday's practice.

LOCAL SHOTS

• Chris Gasper reports that Football Fate is finally smiling on Matt Cassel.  Cassel is starting while Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart sit.
• Shalise Manza Young says the Dolphins have a chance to make a statement vs. Patriots.
• Ron Borges knows the Patriots won't get fooled by the Wildcat again, and Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan explains exactly how the Ravens stopped it.
• Karen Guregian notes Dolphins defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni is aware that Cassel can beat them with his feet.
• Kerry J. Byrne figures out that the Patriots defense has played so poorly that it has made opposing QB's look just as good as Brady.
• Karen Guregian focuses on the progress and unmet expectations of Benjamin Watson, and speculates on Mike Vrabel's lower production this year.
• Shalise Manza Young says Matt Cassel is inspiration for other QB backups.
• Mike Reiss provides comments from CBS analyst Dan Dierdorf on the Patriots-Dolphins game, as provided by the CBS public relations staff, chatter from Matt Cassel's Q & A at Gillette, and More on the Wildcat.
• Globe's Patriots Notebook:  Pats are looking for a physical game against Phins, Miami is concerned about Cassel's ability to run, updates on Brushci's knee and other injuries, discussion on handling Moss being double teamed.
• Jim McBride disses those "Hey Coach" Coors Light commercials and makes his weekly game predictions.  Pick:  Patriots.
  

LONG SHOTS

• Matt Sohn (ProFootball Weekly) writes when Richard Seymour is healthy, as he is now, he’s one of the more difficult 3-4 defensive ends in the league to handle.
• Matt Bowen (National Football Post) calls NE at Miami the biggest game of the day because it carries the most ramifications with it.
• Pat Kirwan (ESPN): Not just a wild idea, Wildcat may be here to stay.
• Albert Breer (Sporting News) looks at the AFC playoff picture and the logjam behind the undefeated Titans.
• Jeff Darlington & John Tomase (The Sporting News):  New England at Miami pregame previews, matchups, and keys to victory for each team.
  

VIEW FROM MIAMI

• David J. Neal (Miami Herald): Patriots' Matt Cassel has rebounded from rout by Miami Dolphins.
• Jeff Darlington (Miami Herald): Miami Dolphins' Ronnie Brown aiming higher in Patriots rematch, and Joey Porter defends Michael Vick, "it's not like he was fighting cocker spaniels or something."
• Harvey Fialkov (Sun-Sentinel): Dolphins WR Greg Camarillo follows in Wes Welker's footsteps.
• Omar Kelly (Sun-Sentinel) implores Miami coaches to give the Patriots SOMETHING they haven't broken down and dissected to pieces since being embarrassed by the Dolphins earlier this season.
• Omar Kelly (Sun-Sentinel) notes Dolphins center Samson Satele will be up against his most challenging opponent this year, big Vince Wilfork.
• Edgar Thompson (Palm Beach Post): Jake Long making the most impact among rookie O-Linemen.