The New England Patriots kept the momentum rolling from their impressive joint practice performance into Friday's preseason opener against the Washington Commanders.
They dominated the visiting Commanders in a 48-18 victory in a matchup that felt more like a regular season game. The Patriots were the more physical football team from start to finish. Even after the starters left the game, that same energy carried over into the second and even third-string units.
They looked like a completely different football team from the one that faced the Philadelphia Eagles around the same time a year ago.