What we learned, Vol 1, Chapter 3

The final score was Patriots 27, Redskins 24 - but it was a preseason game, and the final score really doesn't matter.

What we learned from Friday night's game:

1. Jason Campbell is just fine, thank you much.
Campbell looked solid in his first extended playing time of the year, completing a mix of passes against the Patriots, who will probably have one of the best defenses in the NFL. He wasn't perfect, overthrowing Santana Moss on a deep throw that would have been a touchdown because Moss was open by 4-5 yards. But it was a solid showing, which Campbell needed.

2. Still don't know about the receivers.
Moss will be the No. 1 receiver, that is for sure. But after that ... The Redskins seem to really want to get Malcolm Kelly into that No. 2 roll, but he dropped end-zone fade routes. To be fair, the throws weren't great, but Kelly was drafted to make those sort of catches. After him, Devin Thomas was solid, if not spectacular, as was Antwaan Randle El. The man all of these receivers might have to look out for is rookie Marko Mitchell. He stood out on a 33-yard touchdown from Colt Brennan, and has been surprising throughout the preseason. If he keeps playing like he has, he'll move up the depth chart quickly.

3. The Patriots have a great offense.
The Redskins seem to have a pretty good defense, but New England made the Skins' defense look like swiss cheese. Using quick, accurate, mid-range passing, Tom Brady and the Patriots consistently drove the field on the Redskins, who couldn't really seem to get much pressure. But Brady was getting rid of the ball pretty quickly. Not even really sure Brady was hit until Albert Haynesworth knocked him out of the game in the second quarter.

4. The Redskins have running back issues.
The team will probably only keep three running backs on its roster ... and that's a big issue. Clinton Portis is the starter. Ladell Betts seems entrenched as a third-down back/No. 2 rusher. Rock Cartwright is the special teams demon/kick returner. After that, there's Marcus Mason, Dominique Dorsey and Anthony Alridge.
Alridge I expected to be cut any day now, because he's been injured most of camp and hadn't seen the field until the Patriots game. Well, he played and led the Redskins in rushing with almost 50 yards on nine carries, showing off his speed and elusiveness.
Dorsey has been an upgrade over Randle El on punt returns, and has looked decent as a runner. He's another guy who has shown off his speed.
And then there is Marcus Mason, who isn't quite as fast as Dorsey or Alridge - or quite as elusive - but has a little more build to him that allows Mason to run through tackles a big better. He was perhaps the most impressive runner from Friday night, scoring a 1-yard TD on the Patriots first-team defense.

Quite a problem. And no easy solution. Cartwright plays on all of the special teams and is a leader there, but Mason, Alridge and Dorsey have all shown the ability to run the ball and provide a bigger spark than Cartwright.