The Washington Commanders suffered their first preseason loss, falling 48-18 to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. While this preseason loss stings a little, most players on the field on Friday night, won’t see much regular season action.
Thirty players sat out for precautionary reasons, including rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The team will likely keep Daniels under bubble wrap until the season opener against the Giants.
Patriots Dominate Early in Commanders Preseason Loss
The nightmare began immediately for Washington.
Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Congratulations to the young man.
Larry Izzo is very aggressive on the NFL’s new dynamic kickoff rule. He may well re-consider after allowing 187 yards and a touchdown on three attempts.
Drake Maye Shines Against Washington Defense
Following Henderson’s explosive return, New England continued their run of play. Last year’s third overall pick Drake Maye orchestrated a solid eight-play, 61-yard scoring drive. He capped off the possession with his own touchdown run. Consequently, the Commanders found themselves trailing 14-0 early.
The Patriots maintained their momentum on the next possession. Kicker Parker Romo connected on a field goal to extend the lead to 17-0. He then drilled a stunning 57-yard field goal at the top of the second quarter. As a result, New England were up 20-0.
Commanders Fight Back But Fall Short
Washington finally broke through with their first points. Matt Gay successfully kicked a 37-yard field goal. The 12-play, 50-yard drive showed promise despite the modest result.
However, the Patriots quickly responded with another touchdown. Joshua Dobbs punched it in from two yards out. New England took a commanding 27-3 halftime lead.
Second Half Brings Mixed Results
The Commanders did manage two touchdown drives in the second half. Running back Jeremy McNichols scored on a two-yard run. The offense showed signs of life.
Unfortunately, the defense couldn’t contain New England’s attack. The Patriots added three more touchdowns in the final two quarters. The surge resulted in the lopsided 48-18 final score.
What This Washington Commanders Preseason Loss Means
Importantly, this result carries minimal significance for the regular season. None of the key starters participated in the contest. However, head coach Dan Quinn didn’t appreciate the special teams breakdowns and defensive struggles.
“If you get your ass kicked and we’re in the fight the whole time, I can live with that,” the Commanders’ head coach said. “I can live almost with any result when you put it all in and do it right, but when it’s sloppy and not to the standards, man, that burns my ass.”
The coaching staff will surely use this game as a learning opportunity. They’ll identify areas needing improvement before meaningful games begin.
Looking Ahead: Commanders vs. Bengals
The Commanders return home for their next preseason matchup. They’ll face the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, August 18. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at their home stadium.
This game will provide another chance to evaluate roster bubble players. Additionally, fans hope to see improved special teams performance and defensive coordination.