"I think our position right now in the AFC East is not a bad position," said defensive end Ty Warren. "It gives us a chance.
"[I'm] not saying that the division is already won or anything like that, but we're heading in the right direction and that's a good thing.
"We're having fun doing it. We're having fun coming to work every week and blocking out all the speculations and criticisms of guys like [Matt] Cassel and people speculating and not really knowing how he's going to come along."
Criticism is one thing, season-ending injuries to Tom Brady, safety Rodney Harrison, and running back Laurence Maroney are another.
With the run of injuries this season, the Patriots should consider adopting a red cross as their alternate logo.
New England started yesterday's game without its top two remaining running backs, Sammy Morris (knee) and LaMont Jordan (right calf), and watched both starting cornerbacks, Ellis Hobbs (shoulder) and O'Neal (head) exit with injuries.
Yesterday was a street fight against the rejuvenated Rams, who had won two straight following an 0-4 start.
Even with Steven Jackson, the Rams' leading rusher and receiver, rendered hors de combat by a bruised right thigh muscle, the Patriots needed a career day from Cassel (21 of 33 for a career-high 267 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions) and another clutch play from running back Kevin Faulk (13 rushes for 60 yards, four receptions for 47 yards) to repel the Rams.
After Stephen Gostkowski tied the game at 16 on a 41-yard field goal, his third of the game, Cassel got the ball back at his 47 with 6:57 to go. Seven plays later he found Faulk, who had beaten Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, in the end zone for a 15-yard score and a 23-16 Patriots lead with 3:13 to go.
"It was a great catch," said Cassel, who made a terrific throw. "He made a great move on the linebacker. He was in one-on-one coverage, and I just tried to put it out there and give him the opportunity to make the catch. He did what Kevin Faulk does best."
