Oakland, CA -- (Sports Network) - Matt Cassel threw for 218 yards and four touchdowns on a rainy, muddy day, as the New England Patriots kept pace atop a crowded AFC East with a 49-26 rout of the Oakland Raiders.

With the win, the Patriots (9-5) remain in a three-way tie for first place in their division with the Dolphins and Jets. Miami notched a 14-9 win over San Francisco, while New York came back to beat Buffalo, 31-27, on a late defensive touchdown.

Cassel completed 18-of-30 passes and also threw an interception, and Randy Moss caught five passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns in his first game against the Raiders since being traded from Oakland following the 2006 season. Sammy Morris ran for 117 yards and a touchdown, while Kevin Faulk had 111 total rushing and receiving yards with a score for New England, which will finish its season with games against Arizona and Buffalo.

"First and foremost I just want to thank family and friends for all their support this week," said Cassel, whose father passed away earlier in the week. "It's been a tough week for me obviously and my family. I just wanted to thank everybody for their messages and for their condolences."

Wes Welker went over the 100-reception plateau for the second consecutive season with six catches for 69 yards and a touchdown, as the Patriots outgained Oakland, 487-334, to notch their 11th straight win in December.

"I'm really happy for several guys," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said. "LaMont (Jordan) and Randy (Moss) of course. They did a great job all week of helping us get prepared and I thought they really had some big plays in this game today, played very well and I'm glad their on our football team. They certainly helped us."

JaMarcus Russell posted 242 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 17- of-31 passing for the Raiders (3-11), who became the first team in NFL history to lose 11 games in six consecutive seasons. Johnnie Lee Higgins, primarily used as a punt returner, caught three passes for 66 yards and a receiving score. Justin Miller provided a kickoff return for a touchdown, while Darren McFadden had 114 total yards and a rushing score.

The Raiders were outclassed on the ground, as the Patriots racked up 277 yards rushing and held Oakland to only 116 yards.

"We had some issues of communication in the first half and getting everything matched up," said Raiders head coach Tom Cable. "We weren't on the same page when it comes to communication and that is something we have to get it worked out right away."

New England forced a three-and-out on the Raiders' opening drive and scored on the ensuing possession. Cassel drove 40 yards in nine plays, finding Faulk for a seven-yard touchdown for the early lead.

A poor Shane Lechler punt put New England on Oakland's 35, and New England scored in just three plays. Morris ran for 15 yards on the initial play and Cassel hit Moss for a 20-yard score to make it 14-0 just over seven minutes into the contest.

The Patriots kept on scoring, as Morris tacked on a 29-yard touchdown run with just under four minutes left in the first.

Just when Oakland needed a big play to get into the game, it got one, as Russell found Higgins on the right sideline for a seemingly short gain. But Higgins raced across the field, dodging defenders for a 56-yard touchdown -- his first receiving touchdown of the season -- to make it 21-7.

New England scored a touchdown on its fourth consecutive drive to start the game, becoming the first team in the NFL this season to do so, as Welker's 100th reception of the season turned out to be a 13-yard scoring catch that put the Patriots up 28-7 early in the second.

But the Raiders immediately answered, as Miller took the ensuing kickoff 91 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.

The Patriots responded with a return of their own, when Hobbs ran 95 yards for his third career kickoff return for a touchdown, restoring New England's 21-point advantage, which held up through halftime.

Cassel threw his fourth touchdown of the game -- a nine-yarder to Moss -- to cap a seven-play, 68-yard drive to open the second half.

Russell put together a five-play, 54-yard drive later in the third, finding Curry from 10 yards out to make it 42-20 after a botched extra point attempt.

Jordan added a 49-yard touchdown run for New England 8:51 into the fourth, and McFadden recorded an 11-yard touchdown right after the two-minute warning for Oakland to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

Miller has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in two consecutive weeks, running a 92-yarder back in a loss to the Chargers last week...Higgins has two punt returns for touchdowns this season...In two years with the Raiders (2005-2006), Moss compiled 102 receptions for 1,558 yards and 11 touchdowns.