Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Final Score
Redskins 0
Patriots 41

Teddy’s Take: Repeat after me; it’s only preseason. It’s only preseason. It’s only preseason.

All kidding aside, how can you not be pleased/encouraged/awed by what you’ve seen the last two weeks? Sure, the game means nothing. Sure, the Skins were missing Clinton Portis. So what! This was just an awesome display on both sides of the ball, almost a déjà vu from last week against Arizona.

First downs: 30-8…Total yards: 464-154…Time of possession: 36:08-23:52…it doesn’t get much better against what’s supposed to be a quality opponent (I have my doubts about how good Washington is, but that really doesn’t matter for now). New England dominated in every facet of the game, as evidenced by the final score, the largest margin of victory in the team’s preseason history.

They say football games are won and lost on the line of scrimmage. If so, the Pats are going to win a ton of football games. Just look at the O-Line and the D-Line…loaded with young studs and high draft choices. Those units are going to be good, and they’re going to be good for a long time.

Many Happy Returns: How good was it tosee #37 roaming the secondary? Dan Koppen took the field for the first time as well, but Rodney Harrison was the show stealer as far as injured players returning…a huge lift physically and emotionally for this defense. Richard Seymour and Junior Seau also made their debuts.

Home Cooking: My final thought (and again, it’s just preseason) is that Bill Belichick’s boys are re-establishing the home field dominance they displayed in 2003 and 2004. That mystique disappeared a bit in ’05 after the Chargers came in here and “female dog�-slapped the Pats around Gillette Stadium, but “The Razor� once again looks like it’s going to be a force in helping the home team shave down more than a few opponents.

Starring Roles: Stars on the forehead go to Tom Brady (this is going to get redundant): 17-30, 231-yards, 1-TD, 0-INT’s…Ben Watson: 8-receptions, 97-yards, 1-TD can you say fantasy stud!)…Patrick Cobbs: 13-carries, 92-yards, 2-TD’s (mop-up duty, but impressive nonetheless…still, probably not enough to win a roster spot)…Michael Wright: tied for team-high in tackles with four, 2-sacks (2nd year lineman adding to an already deep and impressive young core that helped account for 7-sacks on the night).

Quality Quote: “It is so efficient the way they handle the offense and everyone is on the same page and he doesn’t panic. He lets the clock run and takes his time. I keep saying he is the Michael Jordan of our era. As friend, as a former player, now as an opponent you can see the preparation that goes into the game. It is not just talent alone it is preparation and he does everything.�—Christian Fauria, Washington TE, on watching Tom Brady from the other side of the field

OK, your turn…impressed? Wish the regular season began last week? Did I miss any other standouts? Did you see any negatives? Are you ready for some football?