After their 22-17 win over the Tennessee Titans, the New England Patriots need to make a quick turnaround ahead of their third preseason game: on Thursday, just three days from now, the reigning world champions will host the Carolina Panthers in what is effectively the ‘dress rehearsal’ for the regular season: the team will prepare like it usually does any given week between September and, ideally, February in terms of scheduling and game-planning.
That being said, a Saturday-Thursday week is of course still different from the usual in-season rhythm. Nevertheless, New England head coach Bill Belichick is embracing the challenge of having to work on a short week — especially considering that his club will face one in mid-October: after their Sunday game in Washington in week five, the Patriots will host the New York Giants on Thursday night only four days later.