Saturday, August 09, 2025

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The New England Patriots earned a 48-18 win over the Washington Commanders in their preseason opener Friday night at Gillette Stadium, starting the season on a positive note under new head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

 

Fast Start Helps Patriots Take Control

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Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, giving the Patriots an early lead. The Ohio State product, drafted 38th overall, also ran for 18 yards on one carry and caught three passes for 12 yards.

 

Drake Maye Shows Progress and Areas to Improve

Second-year quarterback Drake Maye played two series, leading one 61-yard scoring drive capped by his five-yard rushing touchdown. He completed 3 of 5 passes for 12 yards. Maye also lost a fumble when sacked by Jer’Zhan Newton, showing he still needs to improve his ball security under pressure.

 

Special Teams Make an Impact

New England’s special teams produced several big plays. Henderson’s kickoff return was followed by a 62-yard punt return from Antonio Gibson, setting up a two-yard touchdown run by Josh Dobbs. Kicker Andy Borregales hit a 22-yard field goal, and Parker Romo made a 57-yarder.

 

Defense Creates Turnovers

The Patriots’ defense forced multiple turnovers, including an interception by cornerback DJ James on a pass from Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman. Hartman went 9 of 19 for 64 yards with the interception before Josh Johnson replaced him, finishing 15 of 22 for 173 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

 

Commanders Rest Key Players

The Commanders sat 30 players, including most starters. Coach Dan Quinn held out quarterback Jayden Daniels, backup Marcus Mariota, receiver Deebo Samuel, cornerback Marcus Lattimore, and linebackers Von Miller and Bobby Wagner. This gave reserves extended playing time.

 

Start of a New Era in New England

The game was Vrabel’s debut as Patriots head coach after taking over for Jerod Mayo. McDaniels returned as offensive coordinator for his third stint with the team.

 

Looking Ahead

The Patriots will visit the Vikings on August 16, while the Commanders host the Bengals on August 18. Both teams will continue evaluating players ahead of roster cuts.

 

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