New England Patriots Links 8/28/09 - New England at Washington Tonight at 8pm

Christopher Gasper says this week has felt less like preseason and more like a regular-season week.  Plus Five things to keep an eye on tonight.

There’s less big picture stuff and more film work, game-planning and situational football.

"When you’re out there in the third preseason game, you’re through those early phases of training camp where you made a lot of those mistakes," said quarterback Tom Brady. "We’re not in a two-a-day schedule anymore, so you actually have time to watch film on the opponent you’re playing. It’s very much like a normal week for us here, in terms of the schedule and film study."

Ian Rapoport lists Five things to keep an eye on tonight.  Here's one:

Can the first-team defense maintain its stingy pace?

The Pats’ potential starting unit has been tough on opposing offenses in the preseason, allowing no touchdowns in its last nine possessions. Whether utilizing the 4-3 or the 3-4, points have been few. One more game like this, and some may start to wonder if this is a sign of the future. The unit is not perfect. Jarvis Green wants to be better stopping the run, because the team ranks 29th in that category through two games. But there have been signs that a high-powered offense could receive more help than anticipated.

Ian Rapoport gets Bill Cowher's view of the Patriots this season.

"Well I think they're clearly the top of the class in the AFC East," Cowher told me.  "Bill [Belichick] kinda retooled his team.  I think Tom Brady coming back is going ot be fine.  They've got a lot of veterans, they're very well-coached, and I think they're clearly at the top of the class in the AFC East.  Now, how far they go... I think a lot of those things are determined by how healthy they stay throughout the 16-game season." 

TEAM TIDBITS

• New England patriots at Washington Redskins.  Broadcast info, series history, connections and more.
• Patriots Today: Pats-Redskins what to watch for and more.  (7.04 min. video)
• Erik Scalavino The Patriots Football Weekly crew hits Baltimore for the game - the Orioles-Indians game apparently.
  

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss offers his five things to look for in Redskins-Patriots exhibition game.
• Chris Gasper runs down three key areas to watch when the Patriots take on the Washington Redskins tonight at Fed-Ex Field in Landover, MD.
• Mike Reiss notes the broadcasting team for tonight's game will be Jim Nantz and Phil Simms on CBS at 8pm.
• Chris Gasper reports the Patriots have been taking a regular-season approach to tonight's game, in all phases.
• Ian Rapoport calls this the last checkup for Patriots starters before the games count.
• Chris Gasper notes Tully Banta-Cain believes people haven't yet seen the true extent of his pass-rushing capability, but they will this season.
• Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: Fred Taylor is "the Doctor"- always on call; Redskins have a lot of injuries; Bodden says Belichick wants the CBs to be more physical this year; Edelman returning punts in practice.
• Jennifer Toland checks in on BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who's fighting for a place in a crowded backfield.
• Mike Reiss looks at some numbers and milestones the Patriots and individual players can reach in 2009.
• Mike Reiss presided over his Thursday on-line chat. Check out the transcript for some great insight.
• Ian Rapoport notes Pepsi's newest commercial features Belichick on the sideline and some Patriots clips.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Gary Fitzgerald (Redskins.com) Inside the Redskins news and notes.  Clinton Portis talks about what to expect from the third preseason game.
• Tony Moss (Sports Network) NFL Preseason Preview - New England at Washington.
• Jason Reid (Washington Post) Redskins CB Justin Tryon could be Brady target.
• Albert Breer (Sporting News) Q & A with Patriots RB Laurence Maroney.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Take your pick: Manning or Brady?  ESPNs Mike Golic and Mark Schlereth both say Brady will have the bigger season.
• Michael Lombardi (Nat'l Football Post) Blue-chip players listed by team.
• Gregg Easterbrook (ESPN) Welcome to the AFC Preview.  To find New England, scroll past the picture of the dolphin kissing a Miami cheerleader and it's just before the photo of Gisele.  (And someone really should tell him that the Patriots did not draft Derek Cox.)
• John P. Lopez (SI) Injuries shine light on need to shorten antiquated NFL preseason.