Matt Cassel and quarterbacking 101

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Sunday was game four without Tom Brady for the Patriots, and ex-Trojan Matt Cassel kept learning on the job as Brady’s replacement. The Patriots beat the 49ers 30-21 as Cassell threw one TD and two picks while rolling up some personal bests: 22 completions, 259 passing yards and a 66-yard TD pass to Randy Moss.

Moss said after the game: ‘To really open the offense up a little bit more and get the ball downfield to make plays work ... being able to connect on the deep ball ... that’s something that we’ve been missing in our repertoire the past couple of weeks.’

The Patriots (3-1) play at San Diego (2-3) on Sunday night. The Chargers, who lost to Miami yesterday as the Patriots did a week earlier, are six-point favorites.

-- Barry Stavro