Matt Cassel of the New England Patriots walks to the line of scrimmage against the New York Jets on Sunday at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. [AFP]

Career backup quarterback Matt Cassel led the New England Patriots to a 19-10 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday, spoiling Brett Favre's debut on his new team's home field.

Cassel entered last week's victory over the Kansas City Chiefs as a replacement for three-times Super Bowl winner Tom Brady, who injured his knee and was lost for the season.

Favre, a Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers, was acquired by the Jets before the season and led the team to a road victory over the Miami Dolphins last week.

Cassel's last start as a quarterback was as a high school player in 1999.

"I remember watching him growing up," Cassel said of Favre, adding that beating him would be a "memorable" first start for him.

"I felt good. I didn't have too many butterflies. When you get out there, it comes right down to playing football."

Favre was brilliant on one drive in the fourth quarter, completing six out of six passes for 51 yards and ending with a touchdown pass to wide receiver Chansi Stuckey.

But the veteran also made several mistakes. Forced to scramble repeatedly as relentless Patriots defenders blitzed him, he was penalized for throwing an illegal forward pass and later threw an interception.

On his team's final drive of the fourth quarter, Favre got sacked by Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas for a 20-yard loss.

"They have a good defense," Favre told reporters. "Their front seven guys are as good as anyone in football, they're as fundamentally sound as any team you're going to play."

Stephen Gostkowski kicked four field goals for the Patriots and Jay Feely kicked one and missed one for the Jets.

Cassel was efficient in managing the offense, connecting with his receivers on short and medium passes, including a 22-yard one to Kevin Faulk in the third quarter that helped set up the Patriots' only touchdown for running back Sammy Morris.

The 26-year-old Cassel completed 16 of 23 passes for 165 yards. He did not throw for a touchdown, but also was not intercepted.

Favre completed 18 of 26 passes for 181 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception.

The Patriots (2-0) went undefeated in the regular season and playoffs last year but lost the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.

* Adam Vinatieri kicked a 47-yard field goal with three seconds left to rally the Indianapolis Colts to an 18-15 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

The Colts (1-1) trailed 15-0 late in the third quarter before quarterback Peyton Manning masterminded their comeback.

Manning, who recovered from two interceptions to pass for 311 yards and a touchdown, put Vinatieri in position to secure victory with a 20-yard pass to Reggie Wayne 34 seconds from time.

* Manning's brother Eli led the Super Bowl champion New York Giants (2-0) to a 41-13 rout of the St. Louis Rams (0-2). Manning passed for three touchdowns and the visiting Giants defense sacked Rams starter Marc Bulger six times.

* Aaron Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and 328 yards and the Green Bay Packers (2-0) rolled to a 48-25 road win over the Detroit Lions (0-2). Rodgers, Brett Favre's successor, connected with James Jones, Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson for first-half touchdowns and a 21-0 lead.

* The Denver Broncos (2-0) used a two-point conversion with 29 seconds left to stun the visiting San Diego Chargers 39-38. Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler passed to Eddie Royal for the winning points after the two teamed up for a four-yard touchdown. Philip Rivers passed for three touchdowns and 377 yards for the Chargers (0-2).

* For the second consecutive week, the unbeaten Carolina Panthers (2-0) used a fourth-quarter touchdown to win, defeating the Chicago Bears (1-1) 20-17. Jonathan Stewart sealed the home victory with a one-yard run, his second TD of the game, with 3:52 to play.

* The Washington Redskins (1-1) dominated the fourth quarter and defeated the New Orleans Saints (1-1) 29-24. Jason Campbell hit Santana Moss with a 67-yard touchdown pass to rally the Redskins.

(Agencies via China Daily September 16, 2008)