Minutes before Friday’s preseason opener in Foxboro, one team ruled out virtually all of its starters.

The other did not.

That is the most critical piece of context upon reviewing the Patriots’ opening exhibition of the Mike Vrabel era, a 48-18 whooping of Washington. The Patriots treated the opening few series like a regular-season game, comfortably sped to a 17-0 lead and continued to pound the Commanders while their backups took over the rest of the night. Few Patriots players, let alone positions, left the field having been truly tested, though most all of them produced good tape.

“I thought this was a good place to start,” Mike Vrabel said post-game.

Yes, it was. Here are the Herald’s complete film observations from Friday’s 48-18 win:

RB TreVeyon Henderson

It’s impossible to st

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