At 8 PM tonight, the New England Patriots will take on the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome for their second game of the 2010 preseason.
While tonight's game probably won't have the excitement that the preseason opener had, there are certainly some things to look forward to. For one, we should get an extended look at the first string offense and defense, who will likely play a solid chunk of the first half. Yes, that means we will see more Tom Brady and more Randy Moss.
We will also get to see the progress of the rookies and other young players on the team. I am intrigued to see if players such as Brandon Spikes, Patrick Chung, and Brandon Deaderick can repeat their strong performances from last week.
There are also positional battles to keep in mind. Rob Gronkowski is looking to overtake Alge Crumpler on the tight end depth chart, but will need to show something on the field. The left guard situation is still up for grabs. While the front-runner is still Dan Connolly, a player such as Ryan Wendell could sneak up and grab the spot. The Patriots will also have some healthy competition at running back tonight. Of course, we'll also monitor the progress of some of the end of roster battles, such as along the defensive line and cornerback.
Greg's Prediction: Patriots 30 Falcons 20
So stay tuned, and be sure to stick with Pats Pulpit throughout the game!