The New England Patriots had an impressive showing in their preseason opener by upending the Carolina Panthers in a 17-3 victory at Gillette Stadium.
They dominated from start to finish defensively, and the offense showed enough flashes, particularly with Joe Milton III under center at quarterback, to create a sense of hope.
It's important to note that the Panthers ruled out 33 players before the game. So while some confidence can be taken away from the Patriots' performance, it also needs to be grounded in reality. This week will provide the first real test with the Philadelphia Eagles visiting for a scrimmage on Tuesday and a Week 2 preseason game on Thursday.