Moss makes impressive debut as Patriots roll over NY Jets

NEW YORK: Veteran receiver Randy Moss caught one of three touchdown passes from quarterback Tom Brady to help the New England Patriots beat the New York Jets 38-14 on the opening Sunday of the NFL season.

Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs added to the rout by returning the second-half kickoff 108 yards to tie a record for the longest play in NFL history.

Moss, acquired from the Oakland Raiders in the offseason, hauled in nine passes for 183 yards and a score on a 51-yard play-action pass from Brady.

"I felt pretty good," the 30-year-old Moss, who missed most of training camp due to a hamstring injury, told reporters.

"I'm very happy and blessed to have been out there with my teammates and to get a victory," he added.

Brady who completed 22 of 28 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns, praised Moss's performance.

"Randy is a competitor and Randy is a football player," Brady told reporters. "He loves playing football and I said earlier he was a great player before he got to the Patriots and its obvious he is still a great player."

Hobbs said he never thought about not trying to run back the second-half kickoff despite being deep in his end zone.

"They pay me to return kicks, not kneel the ball," he said.

"I tell those guys (his blockers) all the time, even in practice; I'm bringing it out," he added. "You don't make plays on the sideline."

Hobbs tied the NFL record set by the Chicago Bears' Nathan Vasher in 2005 and equalled by the Bears' Devin Hester last year. Both returned missed field goals 108 yards.

Ben Roethlisberger passed for a career-high four touchdowns to lift the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 34-7 win against the Cleveland Browns in Mike Tomlin's first game as Steelers' coach.

The Minnesota Vikings sacked Michael Vick replacement Joey Harrington six times and intercepted him twice for touchdowns in a 24-3 defeat of the Atlanta Falcons.

Brett Favre tied John Elway's NFL record for career wins as a starter by leading the Green Bay Packers to a 16-13 win against the Philadelphia Eagles, his 148th victory. Mason Crosby kicked a 42-yard field goal with two seconds remaining to seal the win.

Shaun Suisham kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime as the Washington Redskins beat the Miami Dolphins 16-13. Suisham also had field goals of 31 and 44 yards and receiver Antwaan Randle El caught five passes for a career-high 162 yards.

NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson ran for one touchdown and passed for another as the San Diego Chargers defeated the Chicago Bears 14-3.

The Tennessee Titans edged the Jacksonville Jaguars 13-10, Chris Brown rushing for a career-best 175 yards on 19 carries.

Agencies

(China Daily 09/11/2007 page23)