How long should you expect to see the starters tonight?

AP Photo/Elise Amendola

The New England Patriots head into the third game of the preseason tonight against the Carolina Panthers. Most teams treat the third preseason game as a chance to get their starters as much playing time as possible as a final tune up before the regular season. That should be the case for tonight's game versus the Panthers.

So just how much should we expect to see Tom Brady and the starters tonight? Over the last four years the starters have been played until halftime at the minimum. In 2010 Brady and the starters were out there until the first drive of the fourth quarter.

Since 2010, Brady has played a minimum of one half of each third preseason game. He played the first series of the 4th quarter in 2010.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) August 21, 2014

Brady and the starters were pulled at halftime of last year's abomination against the Lions. That was the minimal amount of work since '10.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) August 21, 2014

So you can expect a good three quarters of work out of Brady and the starters tonight. Unless things get really ugly out there.

As with every preseason game, lets hope the starters get some good playing time but come out of this game injury free and ready for the regular season.

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