Patriots v. Redskins
I just realized I hadn't blogged about the game yet. In my defense, the CozyWife and CozikinGirl and I were away for the weekend, but my EyeTV let me record it in HD for later watching.
For those new to the preseason, this week is the week that most teams shake down their first-string starters for a bit, to make sure that they fit as a team. And the Patriots pulled that one off. Still missing was Deion Branch, and that top wide receiver spot is a disconcerting hole. Reche Caldwell still needs some settling to do before he's really a candidate there.
That said, oh my goodness. The Redskins were, shall we say, shellacked. And not by a small amount. With so many Patriots linebackers competing for a spot, Mark Brunell resembled a tackling dummy more than a quarterback; so much so that the Redskins swapped him out early in the third quarter, courteously, the Patriots did the same with Brady. Matt Cassel, I take back everything I've ever said implying you aren't yet ready as a backup quarterback. I can imagine a lot of teams that could be improved by having you as a starting quarterback, and you've definitely shown that this preseason.
I am very excited for the season to start. While I'm a bit concerned about the receiving pool, four tight ends and nine wide receivers is a nice pool to choose from, even if some of those names are brand new.
