The Patriots’ First Shot

Good morning! The First Shot provides you with a healthy helping of links to the top Patriots-related stories around the internet to get your day started. Enjoy your breakfast, your coffee, and get yourself primed for a day full of NFL action, including the Patriots visiting the Redskins, with an early morning football fix. The links begin after the jump…

• Are the Patriots the biggest threat to the Green Bay Packers repeating as Super Bowl champions?
• Check out Musket Fire’s NFL Week 14 game picks.
• The Pats signed DE Eric Moore and promoted CB Malcolm Williams from the practice squad. They take the place of DE Jermaine Cunningham, who was placed on IR, and DB Sterling Moore, who was released.
• Patrick Chung, Dan Connolly, Brandon Spikes, and Shane Vereen have been ruled out for today’s game.
• LB Jerod Mayo will have a cheering section at today’s game against the Redskins. Mayo grew up nearby in Virginia.
• While defensive players like to hit, they don’t like getting hit, according to guards Logan Mankins and Brian Waters.
• WEEI’s Christopher Price provides 10 matchups to watch in today’s game.