Three takeaways on the Patriots preseason schedule...WHO'S EXCITED??

Remember this preseason game?... No?!

Ah, preseason.

I'm always actually pretty excited for that first game, and for the third game. That excitement usually ends once the game starts.

The preseason is just a little bit more useful than the Pro Bowl, but it at least gives us a taste of football before the real games begin.

The schedule...

Week 1: At Redskins

Week 2: Vs. Eagles

Week 3: Vs. Panthers

August 28: At Giants

The takeaways...

1. Tradition- This is the third straight year the Patriots will play the Eagles in the preseason. More so, this will mark the 10th straight time that the Patriots and Giants face off in the final preseason game. The Patriots won that game for the first time in three years last year, 28-20. Though, who cares. As I said last year, the two probably keep up this tradition because of the short travel time.

2. Joint practices- Bill Belichick loves joint practices. They're a way to break up the mediocrity of training camp and let the players hit someone else for a change. The team held them with the Eagles and new coach Chip Kelly last year, and it seems safe to assume that they would do so again. There doesn't seem to be any other likely candidates for joint practices, though we'll find out more as we get into the summer.

3. DeSean Jackson's debut- If there is going to be a storyline in a preseason game, it's probably going to be DeSean Jackson debuting as a Washington Redskin. Of course, it's always tough to get anything from a preseason game, but you can be sure the Pats' preseason opener will get a lot of press. REVIS vs DESEAN, for like, 40 seconds!