Brady In Top Form, Leads Pats Past Falcons, 28-10

With Tom Brady playing in mid-season form, Fred Taylor running like a 25 year-old, and Wes Welker looking like he never got injured, the New England Patriots had no problem at all with their first team offense, rolling past the Atlanta Falcons, 28-10.

Welker was playing for the first time since tearing up his knee in last year's final regular season game, and Brady wasted no time in getting him involved in the offense right away. Welker caught the first two balls thrown to him for 20 years, and looked free and easy during his time on the field.

Brady was, well, typical Brady. He lead the Patriots to two scores in the first team's three possessions, completing 10 of 12 passes for 85 yards, including a 4 yard scoring strike to tight end Aaron Hernandez.

Running back Fred Taylor was in top form as well, rushing 11 times for 54 yards, including an up-the-gut 28 yard touchdown.

To the Falcons' defense, they were without cornerback Dunta Robinson for the second straight preseason game, and defensive tackle Peria Jerry also sat this one out.

Still, the Patriots had no issues moving the ball, and moving it well, and the second unit did their best to impress as well. Running back Sammy Morris, battling back from two injury-riddled season, ran six times for 52 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown run, and backup quarterback Brian Hoyer directed two scoring drives of his own in the second half, throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski.

This is a second straight week that the Patriots' offensive line has looked dominant in guiding the running game, and Taylor is showing he still has the ability to grind out the tough yards and occasionally break off the big one as well.

The Patriots' next test will come next week, as they take on the St. Louis Rams next week in Foxboro.