While the NFL is loathe to admit it, the third game is really the only time during exhibition season that you’re seeing anything resembling regular-season quality football for a prolonged stretch. And Patriots fans have to like what they saw last night in Carolina.

Except for one pass coverage breakdown (that actually involved a slip, too), Bill Belichick’s boys showed why they’re the overwhelming Super Bowl favorite, not just in these parts, but around the rest of the country. The Pats were extremely sharp, dominating both sides of the ball. Tom Brady should have been tired and distracted. Instead, he looked like an already great player who’s about to take his game to new heights with his new arsenal of weapons. (Here’s hoping Randy Moss can get on the field soon, just to see how scary that passing attack will be with all hands on deck)

Laurence Maroney was a busy little beaver, getting his first touches and looking good doing so. One warning for Maroney fantasy owners, of which I’m one; I have a feeling Sammy Morris is going to become the short-yardage back and steal 6-8 touchdowns. While the explosive 2nd year back should still be a stud running back (well over 1,000-yards and a bunch of receptions to go with them), experience fantasy players understand how a loss of that many scores can take a player from the Top-2 tiers down to the 3rd and 4th levels.

What do you folks think of the pre-season thus far? Were last night’s Patriots the team we’ve thought they were all along? Or was it a meaningless exhibition?