WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAD THE BALL

As good as the Patriots have been moving the ball with the pass, New England began the game by moving the chains with the run on Sunday, against a Redskins defense that entered the game having given up the fifth fewest rushing yards per game (80.7) in the NFL. New England ran the ball 35 times for 152 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns. The Patriots were also successful passing the ball. Tom Brady was 29 for 38 for 306 yards and three touchdowns for a 125.5 quarterback rating as New England amassed 486 yards of total offense. Brady surpassed his career mark of 28 touchdown passes by throwing his 28th, 29th and 30th. He directed New England on scoring drives of 90, 67, 3, 73, 85, and 88 yards. Backup quarterback Matt Cassel led the Patriots on a 45-yard fourth-quarter drive.

WHEN THE REDSKINS HAD THE BALL

Washington came out of the gate throwing, a surprise considering the Patriots had given up six yards or more per rush in their previous two games. Head coach Joe Gibbs talked before the game about running the ball to control the clock and keep the Patriots' high-scoring offense off the field. The Redskins were able to move the ball 36 yards before their opening drive stalled on the Patriots' 44-yard line. After that, all of Washington's drives against the Patriots' first-string defense ended with either a punt or a turnover. Quarterback Jason Campbell looked confused throughout the contest in only his 14th career start and his first against the Patriots. Campbell was 21 for 36 for 197 yards. He fumbled three times (all turnovers) and threw an interception. The Redskins only managed 224 yards of total offense.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Redskins did a good job limiting Patriots punt returner Wes Welker to fair catches, with Derrick Frost punting the ball high and short so that the Redskins punt team had time to cover the punts. The Redskins punted the ball five times, resulting in 0 return yards for New England. …Stephen Gostkowski was 1 for 1 on field goals, hitting a 36-yarder in the second quarter … Washington averaged 19.6 yards per kickoff return (6 for 118) and New England averaged 9.5 yards per kickoff return (2 for 19).

COACHING

Bill Belichick challenged his defense last week, after the Patriots had back-to-back games of poor tackling, allowing two consecutive teams to average six or more yards per rush. The unit responded by limiting the Redskins to 224 yards of total offense and forcing four turnovers. The first stringers shut out Washington … Joe Gibbs prepared the Redskins to stop Tom Brady and the pass, but New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' game plan was to establish the run before letting Brady pick apart the Redskins' defense. The result was 486 yards of total offense for the Patriots against a thoroughly overmatched Redskins defense: 152 yards on the ground and 334 yards through the air.

INTANGIBLES

The return of five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Richard Seymour provided a spark for on the Patriots' defensive line. New England held Washington to 2.9 yards per rush Sunday (16 rushes for 47 yards). The total domination by the Patriots on both sides of the ball further solidified the Patriots as the league's elite team, and will no doubt lead to more speculation about New England completing a perfect season. It will also add to the hype for Sunday's game against undefeated Indianapolis.