Sports Redux: Fish Fry*

"At times we sputtered," said Randy Moss after the game. It's hard to know exactly which times he's thinking of, since the Pats exploded for a 530-yard day and stomped Miami, 48-28. Matt Cassel has his biggest day ever (haven't we already said that about four times this year?), throwing for 415 of those yards and finding Moss for three TDs.

Even the defense, if a little shaky, toughened up and kept Miami from running the trick plays that bedeviled the Pats back in September. But it was Cassel, who threw for 400+ for the second straight game (joining Fouts, Marino, Simms and Billy Volek in that semi-exclusive club) and the offense who clinched this win. At the end, Miami dealt with the loss (and probable elimination from playoff contention) in characteristically mature fashion: Joey Porter, without a microphone around to pour his angst into, got whistled for a series of unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties, and Matt Light mixed it up with the Dolphins' Channing Crowder and might get a visit from the NFL Fine Fairy.

You'd think the mood would be lighter in Miami, since the '72 squad got to have their annual "Look At Us, We're Still Relevant" party as Tennessee lost for the first time, to the hated Jets. So much for 11-0 Tennessee at 0-11 Detroit on Thanksgiving. The Lions, surprising nobody, kept up their end of the bargain and blew a 17-0 lead to lose again.

The Celtics, possibly tired of having to come back and win, put all doubt to rest early, bulldozing their way to a 32-20 first quarter and cruising the rest of the way to a 118-103 win in Toronto. The offense doesn't get much more balanced than this: Ray 21, Tony 15, KG 15, Rondo 15, Perk 12, Pierce 11, Eddie 11. Even Brian Scalabrine's hit a three in five consecutive games. After the game, everyone was once again gushing about Rondo. "We're winning by big margins and I really believe [Rondo's speed] is the reason," says Doc Rivers. "This is a textbook game for Rondo to see exactly how he should attack every night," adds Ray Allen. The C's now have to cool their heels until Golden State comes in on Wednesday.

*Yes, we know dolphins are mammals, not fish. Duly noted.