BY JIM DONALDSON
Journal Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO -- Nobody misses Tom Brady more than Randy Moss.

A year ago, the two hooked up on a league-record 23 touchdown passes. Moss caught 98 balls and averaged 15.2 yards per catch in his spectacular, 2007 season. He surpassed the 100-yard mark in receiving in 9 of New England's 16 games. In 8 games, he caught 2 or more TD passes.

This year, with Brady injured and Matt Cassel at quarterback, Moss has just 2 TD catches in five games. Although he had 6 receptions for 116 yards and a TD in the season-opening win over Kansas City, and 5 for 111 and a TD in last Sunday's victory at San Francisco, he was held to 2-for-22 by the Jets, 4-for-25 by the Dolphins and, Sunday night in San Diego, 3-for-26 by the Chargers.

That's 3 times in 5 games Moss has been held to less than 30 yards in receptions. That didn't happen even once last year, when his season-low was 34 yards, on 4 catches, at Baltimore.