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PRESEASON WEEK 1
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (0-0) vs. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-0)
Thursday, Aug. 7 — 7:30 p.m. ET
FedExField (85,000) — Landover, Md.

— Download the full game release (PDF)

The Washington Redskins will open their 2014 preseason slate at home on Thursday, Aug. 7, as the Redskins host the New England Patriots at FedExField. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The contest on Thursday wasn't the first time these teams will see one another this year, as the two franchises conducted joint practices with one another at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond, Va. from Aug. 4-6. The teams conducted joint sessions over three days in advance of the game.

The game will be the NFL preseason head coaching debut of Jay Gruden, who assumed head coaching duties on Jan. 9. Throughout training camp, Gruden has emphasized the importance of the team's four preseason games in evaluating players for the 53-man roster.

"It's [the] early stages of our evaluating process, but we do have a good feel for the guys, but only time will tell," Gruden said. "You have to let the games be the main evaluator, not just coming out here in shorts at walkthroughs and practice. So the games are going to be a major part of how we evaluate the bottom half of the roster and the backups and the depth of our team."

SERIES HISTORY:
— Redskins lead regular season series, 6-3
— Patriots lead preseason series since 1961,13-7
— Last overall meeting: Dec. 11, 2011 (37-27, NE)
— Last preseason meeting: Aug. 28, 2009 (27-24, NE)

TELEVISION: NBC-4/Comcast SportsNet
— Kenny Albert (play-by-play)
— Joe Theismann (color)
— Ken Harvey (sidelines)

RADIO: Redskins Radio Network
— Larry Michael (play-by-play)
— Sonny Jurgensen (color)
— Chris Cooley (analysis)
— Rick "Doc" Walker (sidelines)

THE OPPONENT:
Bill Belichick leads the New England Patriots into the 2014 preseason following a 12-4 campaign and an AFC East title in 2013. The Patriots earned a 43-22 win against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional Round before falling to the Denver Broncos, 26-16, in the AFC Championship.

Quarterback Tom Brady, now entering his 15th NFL season, is expected to lead the Patriots' offense once again in 2014. Last season, Brady completed 380-of-628 passes (60.5 percent) for 4,343 yards with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Running back Stevan Ridley returns after leading the Patriots in rushing in 2013. He compiled 773 yards on 178 carries (4.3 avg.) with seven rushing touchdowns. Ridley also added 10 receptions for 62 yards.

Wide receiver Julian Edelman led the Patriots in receiving a season ago, posting team highs in receptions (105), receiving yards (1,056) and receiving touchdowns (seven). Fellow receiver Danny Amendola contributed 54 receptions for 633 yards with two touchdowns. Rob Gronkowski led the Patriots' tight ends, gaining 592 yards on 39 catches with four touchdowns.

Linebacker Dont'a Hightower led the Patriots in tackles in 2013, compiling 97 tackles (55 solo), according to NFL GSIS, followed by defensive end Rob Ninkovich (91 tackles, 42 solo). Defensive end Chandler Jones led the Patriots in sacks a season ago with 11.5, followed by Ninkovich's eight. Cornerback Logan Ryan posted a team-high five interceptions.

Stephen Gostkowski handles kicking duties for New England and was 38-of-41 on field goal attempts last season (92.7 percent). Ryan Allen punted 76 times with a 45.9-yard average. A season ago, the nowdeparted LeGarrette Blount at kick returner led the team with 17 returns for 494 yards. Edelman handled punt returning duties, gaining 374 yards on 35 returns (10.7 avg.).

PRESEASON SERIES:

Thursday's preseason game between the Redskins and the Patriots will be the 21st preseason meeting between the two franchises since the AFL's Boston Patriots began playing preseason games against NFL competition prior to the 1967 season.

The Redskins won each of the team's first three preseason contests, taking wins against the Boston Patriots in 1967 and 1970 and a win against the renamed New England Patriots in 1973.

On Thursday, the Redskins will be seeking their first preseason victory against the Patriots since Aug. 11, 2000.

REDSKINS-PATRIOTS CONNECTIONS:

Former Patriots on Redskins:
S Brandon Meriweather (2007-10)

Patriots from the Washington, D.C. area:
LS Danny Aiken (Roanoke, Va.)
LB James Anderson (Chesapeake, Va.)
CB Kyle Arrington (Accokeek, Md.)
DB Travis Hawkins (Rockville, Md.)
LB Jerod Mayo (Hampton, Va.)
Head Coach Bill Belichick (Annapolis, Md,)
Running Backs Coach Ivan Fears (Suffolk, Va.)

Redskins from the New England area:
DL Chris Baker (Windsor, Conn.)
LB Rob Jackson (West Haven, Conn.)
RB Silas Redd (Stamford, Conn.)
TE Jordan Reed (New London, Conn.)

Patriots who went to college in the Washington, D.C. area:
LS Danny Aiken (Virginia)
OLB James Anderson (Virginia Tech)
DL Joe Vellano (Maryland)

Redskins who went to college in the New England area:
WR Nick Williams (Connecticut)

Notable Pro Connections:
    •    NT Chris Baker played for Patriots Defensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels in Denver while McDaniels was the head coach there in 2009.
    •    OT Tyler Polumbus played for McDaniels in Denver from 2008-09, as well as Patriots Special Teams Coach Scott O'Brien in 2008.
    •    DE Frank Kearse played for Miami in 2011 while Patriots Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll and Patriots Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo both coached there.
    •    DE Clifton Geathers and Baker played for Patriots Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo in Miami in 2010.
    •    CB E.J. Biggers, LB Adam Hayward and New England Patriots CB Kyle Arrington all played together in Tampa Bay in 2009 under current Redskins Defensive Backs Coach Raheem Morris. Hayward also played with Patriots CB Darrelle Revis in Tampa Bay in 2013.
    •    DE Stephen Bowen and DE Jason Hatcher played with Patriots WR Danny Amendola in Dallas in 2008.
    •    NT Barry Cofield played for the Giants when Patriots Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo was the Offensive Assistant Line Coach there from 2006-08.
    •    P Blake Clingan played with Patriots LB Chris White in Detroit (Aug. 2013).
    •    QB Colt McCoy, G Shawn Lauvao and Geathers all played in Cleveland in 2010 with Patriots Tight Ends Coach Brian Daboll.
    •    Lauvao and McCoy both worked with Patriots Coaching Staff Assistant Michael Lombardi in Cleveland in 2013.
    •    OT Tyler Polumbus played with Patriots CB Brandon Browner in Seattle in 2011.
    •    WR DeSean Jackson, LB Akeem Jordan and C Mike McGlynn played in Philadelphia with Patriots CB Kyle Arrington in 2008 and WR Danny Amendola in 2009.
    •    Geathers, Jackson, Jordan, McGlynn and Adrian Robinson played with Patriots Safety Patrick Chung in Philadelphia in 2013.
    •    S Trenton Robinson and LB Darius Fleming were teammates in San Francisco in 2012.
    •    McCoy played with Patriots DB Daxton Swanson in San Francisco in 2013.
    •    CB Tracy Porter and Patriots DE Rob Ninkovich played together in New Orleans in 2008. Porter also played with Patriots DE Will Smith in New Orleans from 2008-12.
    •    DE Frank Kearse, Patriots LB James Anderson (2006-12) and Patriots WR Brandon LaFell all played together in Carolina from 2011-12.
    •    Miller also worked with Patriots Tight Ends Coach Brian Daboll in 2012 in Kansas City when Daboll was the Offensive Coordinator.
    •    CB DeAngelo Hall and Patriots DL Tom Kelly played together in Oakland in 2008.

Notable College Connections:
    •    K Kai Forbath, TE Logan Paulsen and Patriots WR Matthew Slater played together at UCLA from 2006-07. Forbath, WR Jerry Rice Jr. and Patriots DT Seali'i Epenesa played together at UCLA in 2010.
    •    P Robert Malone (2006-09) and S Phillip Thomas (2008-12) played at Fresno State with Patriots OL Ryan Wendell (2004-2007) while Patriots Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Moses Cabrera (2004-09) held the same position there.
    •    K Zack Hocker, NT Robert Thomas and Patriots DE Jake Bequette, QB Ryan Mallett and TE D.J. Williams played together at Arkansas in 2011.
    •    P Blake Clingan and Patriots OL Chris Martin played together at Central Florida in 2010.
    •    WR DeSean Jackson, LS Nick Sundberg and Patriots RB Shane Vereen played together at California during the 2007 season.
    •    WR Aldrick Robinson, CB Richard Crawford, and G Josh LeRibeus played with Patriots LB Ja'Gared Davis at Southern Methodist University in 2010.
    •    TE Ted Bolser and Patriots RB Stephen Houston played together at Indiana from 2011-13.
    •    CB DeAngelo Hall and Patriots LB James Anderson played together at Virginia Tech from 2001-03.
    •    LB Riley Perry Jr., Patriots WR Brandon LaFell and RB Stevan Ridley all played together at LSU from 2006-09.
    •    Patriots OL Bryan Stork blocked for RB Chris Thompson at Florida State from 2009-12.
    •    RB Roy Helu Jr., LB Will Compton, G Spencer Long, TE Niles Paul, and Patriots CB Alfonzo Dennard all played together at Nebraska from 2009- 10.
    •    S Brandon Meriweather and Patriots DL Vince Wilfork played together at Miami from 2002-03.
    •    LB Darryl Sharpton, WR Leonard Hankerson and Patriots DL Marcus Forston all played together at Miami during the 2009 season.
    •    S Akeem Davis (2009-12) and Patriots T Jordan Devey (2011-12) played together at Memphis.
    •    CB Chase Minnifield, T Morgan Moses and Patriots LS Danny Aiken played together at Virginia during the 2010 season.
    •    CB David Amerson and Patriots TE Asa Watson played together at North Carolina State from 2010-12.
    •    T Tyler Polumbus and Patriots T Nate Solder played together at Colorado from 2006-07.
    •    G/C Mike McGlynn and Patriots Darrelle Revis played together at Pittsburgh from 2004-06.
    •    G/T Maurice Hurt, TE Jordan Reed, Patriots DL Dominique Easley and G Jon Halapio all played together at Florida in 2010.
    •    WR Cody Hoffman and DL Eathyn Manumaleuna played together at Brigham Young University from 2009-13.
    •    DE Doug Worthington and Patriots DB Nate Ebner played together at Ohio State University in 2009.
    •    LB Trent Murphy, Patriots OL Cameron Fleming and RB Tyler Gaffney all played together at Stanford from 2010-13.
    •    DE Stephen Bowen and Patriots CB Kyle Arrington played together at Hofstra from 2004-06.

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