EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The preseason, finally, mercifully and thankfully, is over.

The Patriots punctuated their summer with a primetime battle against the Giants, a mini appetizer for their rematch to come on Monday Night Football in December. That game, of course, will look much different than Thursday’s did.

Coming off five days of rest, the Pats fielded just two starters. Undrafted rookie Ben Wooldridge started at quarterback. The stands at MetLife Stadium looked like they were picked clean from the opening kickoff.

So, let’s skip Thursday night and zoom out.

Here are five thoughts on the Patriots’ preseason as a whole, with an eye toward their season opener on Sept. 7.

After Drake Maye’s final preseason appearance last weekend in Minnesota, Mike Vrabel had a message for his quar

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