Sammy Morris (34) runs for a TD in a 41-7 Patriots rout. (Michael Dwyer/Associated Press)

New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel evoked memories of Tom Brady on Monday night.

Cassel enjoyed his finest effort since replacing the injured Brady in the season opener, throwing three touchdown passes in a 41-7 rout of the Denver Broncos before a crowd of 68,756 at Gillette Stadium.

He had totalled three TD passes in his previous five games.

"I would like to think that I continue to grow each and every week," Cassel said. "The more you run this offence, the more comfortable you become."

Cassel completed 18 of 24 pass attempts for 185 yards, including TD tosses of 13 and 27 yards to Randy Moss and a six-yarder to Wes Welker.

"If we keep moving the ball like we did tonight, we're only going to get better each and every week," Cassel said of the Patriots (4-2), who posted a perfect 16-0 record last regular season with Brady at the helm.

"The main focus was to really play a complementary game — special teams, offence and defence — and I think we did that tonight," Moss noted. "When we put all three of those things together, this team is very, very scary."

Sammy Morris ran roughshod over Denver's defence, rushing 16 times for 138 yards and a touchdown before he suffered a knee injury.

Rookie running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis picked up the slack, gaining 65 yards on 13 carries and completing the scoring on a one-yard TD run with 3:06 left.

"I just wanted to continue to pick up where he [Morris] left off," Green-Ellis said of his first pro touchdown.

Stephen Gostkowski staked the Patriots to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter with field goals from 31 and 40 yards.

'They outplayed us from the first snap'

The Broncos (4-3), who committed five turnovers, trailed 20-0 by intermission and 34-0 before Daniel Graham hauled in a 10-yard TD pass with 13:21 remaining.

"They outplayed us from the first snap of the game," Graham said.

"We played with a lot of emotion," said Patriots defensive back Brandon Meriweather, who had one of the two picks. "We've got a lot of little things to still fix."

Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler completed 17 of 26 passes for 168 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions before he was replaced by Patrick Ramsey, who completed a pair of passes in relief.

Michael Pittman carried 20 times for 88 yards in a losing cause.

"In front of the nation, we didn't show up tonight," Broncos cornerback Dre' Bly said. "It was embarrassing."

With files from the Associated Press