FOXBORO -- Patriots players have said in the past that the final week of preseason is, for many, a week used to prepare for Week 1 of the regular season. Get healthy. Get some mistakes cleaned up. Get ready for the first opponent for the regular season.
Julian Edelman told reporters on Tuesday that this week has been a "reality check," perhaps because for the first time in a long time, he's actually preparing to play in preseason game No. 4 instead of dialing in to the first meaningful game on the schedule.
"Real football starts soon,'' said Edelman.