Bean's thoughts from Patriots-Lions: Preseason cliches hold true

There are two cliches about the preseason: That the third game is the “dress rehearsal” and that there’s a big risk of injury. Both happened Friday. 

Any and every bit of the Patriots’ lights-out performance to begin the game was overshadowed by the loss of Julian Edelman, who left the game with an apparent right knee injury in the first quarter. The injury occurred without contact, as the veteran receiver seemed to hurt himself planting his right leg while making a cut after catching a pass from Tom Brady. 

MORE: 

• Julian Edelman to CSNNE after injury: 'I am relentless'
• Tom Brady on Julian Edelman's injury: 'Hoping for the best'
• Which player needs to step up if Julian Edelman is out?
• Edelman injury leaves Brady without his go-to option in Detroit

The Patriots initially ruled Edelman questionable to return, but he was downgraded to out. Orthopedic surgeon Christopher Chihlas said on Early Edition that from the looks of the video, Edelman could have an ACL sprain. 

As for the dress rehearsal part, Tom Brady and other starters played essentially the entire first half. Though the scoring certainly came in bunches, as the Pats scored the first 24 points of the game, the Lions scored the next 28 straight and the Patriots scored the final six for a 30-28 victory. The win was the Patriots' first of the preseason. They're 1-2 heading into next Thursday's finale against the Giants.

Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo were the only quarterbacks to play for New England, with each playing a half.

EALY, RICHARDS NOT HELPING THEIR CASES  

Kony Ealy’s name has been thrown around as someone still fighting for a spot on the roster, as is Jordan Richards. Neither’s standing looks much improved through three games, as Richards recovered a fumble but also missed a tackle on Dwayne Robinson, leading to an 18-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Ealy didn’t see playing time until the second half and stayed in the game into the fourth quarter.

DON’T DO THAT, TOM 

Tom Brady took off to run for a first down during a second-quarter drive. There’s nothing wrong with taking a few yards that are given to you and sliding, but that’s not what Brady did. He tried to juke Darius Slay, which allowed him to be tripped up from behind. Know what’s not a good idea in a meaningless game? That. 

BUT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING ELSE

The only concern with Brady in the preseason is that he stays healthy. Any performance dip or bad decision isn’t worth sweating. That’s why when Brady chucked a pass deep into double coverage that was easily intercepted by Glover Quin, you should have been over it about 10 seconds later. 

Brady finished the night 12-of-15 for 174 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. 

HOGAN DOMINATES THE POSTSEASON AND THE PRESEASON 

Brady connected with Chris Hogan for touchdowns in each of New England’s first two drives. After Hogan put the Pats on the board with a seven-yard touchdown to cap a 75-yard drive on which Brady was 4-for-4, the veteran receiver caught a deep pass for a 32-yard score. 

Hogan was technically the intended receiver on Brady’s second-quarter interception, but he was nowhere near the ball when Quin nabbed it. He finished the game with four catches for 70 yards. 

GILLISLEE MAKES AN IMPRESSION 

After not playing the first two preseason games as he dealt with a hamstring issue, Mike Gillislee had eight carries for 38 yards and a touchdown. He punched in a one-yard score on his first carry of the game and later broke off a 27-yard run. 

GRONK WATCH 

After having not played a preseason game since 2012, Rob Gronkowski has now played in two this year. The star tight end picked up his first and only catch of the preseason to this point, a nine-yard reception, after not having a catch last week against the Texans. 

GOSTKOWSKI MISSES PAT

Stephen Gostkowski was 3-for-3 on field goals, but he missed the extra point on New England’s second touchdown. He made up for that by drilling the game-winning kick with two seconds remaining on a 45-yard field goal.