FOXBORO — The opener in 2008 was Matt Cassell's introduction to Patriots' nation.
Last night against Buffalo, wayward son Ben Watson reunited with the New England football faithful.
And yes, it does feel good.
"I was so excited for Benjamin, just for the simple fact that so many people were writing him off, counting him out, saying he wouldn't even be on this team," said teammate Kevin Faulk of Watson, the most unlikely of a handful of Patriots' opening-night heroes.
"That speaks to the character of Ben. He didn't get down. He just did what he had to do and got better as a football player. It showed tonight."
Watson caught a pair of TD passes in the final 2:06 — matching his total for 2008 — to punctuate an uncanny 25-24 Patriots win over what has to be a catatonic band of Buffalo Bills.
Just 12 days ago, Watson sat in the deepest valley, forced to actually play in the final preseason game with a band of future butchers, bakers and candlestick makers.
New England had spoken. A first-round pick in 2004, Watson was toast around here.
"Yeah," he agreed with the last statement — with an ear-to-ear grin.
Watson could afford to gloat a bit. He had just overcome a slumbersome first half and turned in a 6-grab, 77-yard night, including TDs of 18 and 16 yards as the Pats rallied from a 24-13 hole.
With an embarrassing defeat clearly set to be tattooed on this team, Brady turned to Big Ben of all people.
That same Big Ben was running hook routes, ineffectively, against New York Giants scrubs, again less than two weeks ago.
"If you let yourself go up and down, up and down, you'll drive yourself crazy," said Watson, who then motion his hands in a straight, horizontal line. "You have to stay right here. You don't get on that roller coaster of what people say. It will drive you crazy."
At times early last night, Watson looked like the 2008 model, driving the home fans a bit bonkers when he was unable to extract himself from what appeared to be Velcro single coverage by the Bills linebacking crew.
He had two catches for 20 yards in the first half. They were a quiet two catches at that as New England's offense clinked and clunked to a lackluster 10-point output.
How could Brady even consider him in such desperate times?
"The coverage they played really dictated it," said the cool Pats QB. "He ran two really great routes. The first one was an incredible route ... and the second one was an incredible catch. I tried to throw it high on his back shoulder and he just went up and made a phenomenal catch."
Clearly, Belichick, even with the ego-demolishing insertion against the Giants, has plans for Watson. The Patriots played the bulk of the first three quarters in two and three tight end sets.
If last night's first-half indicated anything, it's that the Patriots will be forcing the ground game on the opposition. And that means emphasis returning to Watson and Chris Baker.
Watson, for better or worse in 2009, is again necessary.
"I told him it was the best catch I've ever seen him make," said Brady. "Hopefully, there's a lot more of those in store."
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