Brady sits, Redskins rout Pats in preseason opener

Landover, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - Kirk Cousins played the majority of the opening half and threw a touchdown pass in Washington 23-6 preseason victory over New England.

The Patriots rested starting QB Tom Brady, while new Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson sat due to a left ankle injury. The Patriots also rested cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Robert Griffin III played the first offensive series and led the Redskins to a field goal from Kai Forbath. Griffin, who struggled much of last season after making a quick recovery from major knee surgery, completed 2-of-4 passes for nine yards.

Cousins connected on 9-of-13 throws for 103 yards. That included a 10-yard scoring strike to Aldrick Robinson in the first quarter. Colt McCoy was 8-of-9 passing for 102 yards, including a 7-yard scoring connection to rookie tight end Ted Bolser in the third quarter.

Ryan Mallett took charge of New England's offense for the first half and was 5-of-12 for 55 yards through the air. Jimmy Garoppolo, a rookie out of Eastern Illinois who won the 2013 Walter Payton Award as the top player in FCS, was 9- of-13 for 157 yards. That included a 26-yard TD pass to Brian Tyms late in the fourth quarter.

The teams conducted joint practice sessions Monday - Wednesday at Redskins Training Center in Richmond, Va. prior to their preseason opener at FedEx Field.

It also marked the preseason head coaching debut of Jay Gruden, who took over the Redskins on Jan. 9 after firing Mike Shanahan following a 3-13 season, the worst record for Washington since 1994.

Forbath and Zach Hocker connected on 39-yard field goals for Washington, which scored the game's first 23 points.