Moss scores three times to down Miami

MIAMI (Reuters) - Randy Moss scored three touchdowns to lift the New England Patriots to a 48-28 victory over division rivals the Miami Dolphins and boost their playoff hopes on Sunday.

New England quarterback Matt Cassel, deputizing for the injured Tom Brady, threw for 415 yards and three touchdowns as Miami, who went into the game level on 6-4 with the Patriots, struggled to cope with the visiting offense.

The Patriots are second in the AFC East behind the New York Jets who defeated the previously unbeaten Tennessee Titans 34-13.

Despite the 20-point difference in the result, it was an even contest for the first three quarters with Miami having an opportunity to repeat their surprise win over the Pats earlier in the season.

Miami led 14-10 in the second quarter after quarterback Chad Pennington showed quick-thinking to scramble for a touchdown and early in the third quarter they had a 21-17 advantage when Casey Cramer collected a two-yard pass from Pennington.

But it was the extraordinarily agile Moss's day.

He got the better of Miami's Jason Allen throughout the contest and put paid to the home team's hopes of extending a four-game winning streak when he collected a 29-yard Cassel pass to open a 38-28 lead.

LINGERING HOPES

Any lingering hopes the Dolphins had of a comeback were dashed when Brandon Meriweather intercepted Chad Pennington on the following drive.

Miami linebacker Channing Crowder and New England tackle Matt Light were ejected in the fourth quarter after clashing.

Moss was surprised that Miami coach Tony Sparano chose not to double-up on him.

"I don't know why the coach disrespected me like that with single coverage. Every time I see single coverage I think I can beat them," said Moss, who was full of praise for the way Cassel has matured.

"I think Matt is getting into his comfort zone and we are getting into ours with him as well," the wide receiver told reporters.

Cassel spent three years as understudy to Brady and until this year he had not started a game since high school having also spent his college years as a back-up.

The quarterback now feels he has adjusted to the pressures of the NFL.

"You become more comfortable as you play. You just can't simulate game-speed," he said.

The win was much-needed for the Patriots after their loss to the Jets while for Miami it was something of a fall to earth after an impressive run.

Sparano said his side had paid the price for their relative inexperience.

"For three quarters and a half we were slugging it out there in a big game where I think anybody could have won. And then we did the things that young, immature teams do. We got penalties, we got caught up in that whole mess out there and that's how you end up losing a game against a good team," he said.

(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Ed Osmond)