The Record Breakers
Quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Randy Moss were working in perfect harmony, as Brady hit Moss six times for 90 yards and two touchdowns. They were really driving the offense early, with all of that production coming in the game's first 17 minutes. What's more, Moss caught all six passes that were thrown his way, the only Pats wideout who could say that Friday night.
On their first touchdown connection, Brady hung in the pocket and waited for Moss to break free before hitting him for a 26-yard score. On the Patriots' next drive, Moss split through three defenders before Brady hit him for a 27-yard scoring strike.
The pair has spent so much time in training camp this summer working on routes toward the end zone, and on Friday night against the Redskins, they looked like they were out behind Gillette Stadium tossing it around on the practice fields.
But Then There Were the Others
While Brady and Moss looked like they were in midseason form, there were times when Brady and his other targets looked like they just showed up. Sure, Brady and wideout Joey Galloway (who caught three of the six passes thrown his way for 30 yards) have had their moments and seem like they're coming together slowly, but it's taking a little bit longer with wide receiver Greg Lewis, who didn't catch either of the passes Brady threw in his direction.
Then, on a second-down play in the second quarter, Brady threw it to running back Fred Taylor in a seam over the middle, but Taylor never turned around. Brady immediately walked up to Taylor to explain the error the veteran back made, and Brady also summoned Taylor to sit on the bench with him when the offense left the field. Brady threw two passes to Taylor in the game, and both hit the ground.
While we're on the subject, give running back Laurence Maroney some credit. The running back — who had his best game of the preseason — caught all three passes thrown in his direction for a total of 30 yards.
Pocket Presence
More on Brady? Why not? Though the big story of the second half was Brady's right shoulder, which hit the ground hard after he took a pounding from the human tank known as Albert Haynesworth, it's probably safe to assume he's fine. The team announced Brady has a sore shoulder, which according to the team's injury report, is an ailment he's had for about five years.
Anyway, Brady looked very comfortable and aware in the pocket throughout the game. He hung in there late while a rusher was coming around his back side before delivering his first touchdown pass to Moss. Then, early in the second quarter with pressure coming from two angles, Brady shifted through the pocket and dumped the ball off to Maroney on a nice play by both parties. And later, with his targets covered and the line breaking down around him, Brady scrambled to his right and slid down for a self-imposed sack, the safe move in that situation because he didn't throw an ill-fated pass or take a heavy hit.
While Brady's arm and knee have been under the microscope this preseason, it's clear that his head is also in the game now that he is aware enough to be efficient in the pocket.
Secondary Exposed
Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss has some of the finest footwork in the NFL, and he burnt cornerback Leigh Bodden on Washington's first drive of the game. Moss caught a pair of passes on the drive for 35 yards and set up the Redskins in Pats territory. Patriots rookie cornerback Darius Butler was flagged for pass interference later in the drive, setting up the Redskins at the 1-yard line, and Washington punched it in on the next play. It was the first touchdown the Patriots first-team defense allowed this preseason.
The Patriots secondary has looked pretty good in the preseason, and Bodden has been a model of consistency. He came a fingertip shy of making a nice play on one of Moss' receptions, and he certainly recovered to finish out with another strong performance. Their issues on the Redskins' opening drive seemed to be more a matter of being unable to handle Jim Zorn's West-Coast offense, which was perfectly executed by quarterback Jason Campbell.
Welcome to the O.C.
If you bought low on quarterback Kevin O'Connell after the Patriots' preseason opener, your stock portfolio is looking good right now. Granted, O'Connell wasn't exactly a Hall of Famer against the Redskins, but it has become evident that he's regained his job as Brady's primary backup after appearing to lose it for a week earlier in the preseason. However, things could definitely change next week when the Patriots conclude their preseason schedule against the New York Giants, because it'll be all about the backups.
O'Connell was 2-of-9 for 17 yards in Washington, and he threw two interceptions, although one wasn't really his fault. If Patriots head coach Bill Belichick lost any confidence in O'Connell, the second-year signal-caller would have been benched after two turnovers in two possessions.
Still, O'Connell led a nine-play, 67-yard drive to the Washington 11-yard line before running back Chris Taylor fumbled the ball away with 11:37 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was the second time in as many games that O'Connell led a fourth-quarter drive that should have ended with a go-ahead score for the Patriots, but instead ended with a running back fumbling the ball.
Slater in Trouble
Matthew Slater figured to be on the outside of the roster bubble heading into Friday's game, and he didn't do anything to help himself. Slater was flagged for fair-catch interference during the Patriots' first punt of the game, and he was tackled by the first wave of defenders on each of his kickoff returns.
As Is Crable
A colleague loves to point out an old Ellis Hobbs saying: "You can't make the club if you're in the tub." Basically, it means that bubble players need to be on the field, not in the trainers' room.
Shawn Crable, who was expected to challenge for serious playing time at outside linebacker during his second season with the Patriots, missed his second preseason game Friday night, and his attendance at practice has also been minimal. He's fighting for a final roster spot against guys like Vinny Ciurciu, Eric Alexander, Paris Lenon and Rob Ninkovich. Crable, a physical specimen, might be a third-round pick, but he's not giving the coaching staff much tape to work with.
