WASHINGTON (7News) — The Commanders’ preseason opener against the New England Patriots proved to be a wakeup call better received now than during the regular season.

Washington lost by 30 points, but a bright spot came on the defensive end. Second-year tackle Johnny Newton delivered a strong performance that was highlighted by a strip-sack on Drake Maye during the first quarter.

It was a moment that demonstrated how Newton could be a difference-maker for the team this season.

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“Doing whatever I can to beat the guy in front of me and it happened, so that was really exciting,” Newton told 7News Sports Director Scott Abraham.

Newton believes there is a night-and-day difference between how he feels now and how he felt entering his rookie campaign a season ago.

“Having to get into the swing of things going into the season, rather than having the whole offseason to work and then coming in here, full swing, ready to go,” he said.

While questions remain about the Commanders’ defense, Newton is ready to go to war with his brothers in the trenches.

“The confidence that I have in our D-line, I say we’re going to be the best this year,” Newton said. “With all the vets that we have, the experience, and just the explosiveness that we have off the ball.”

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After Washington’s disappointing preseason opener, Newton believes it was exactly what the team needed to experience.

“Just looking in the mirror after that game, you just realized that wasn’t acceptable,” he said. “That’s not our standard, we know that. We’re a clean football team, we do it by the rules, do it by the book.”

As attention shifts to Monday’s preseason game against the Bengals at Northwest Stadium, Newton said he and his teammates are trusting the process.

“Everybody just figuring out things that they can do better,” Newton said.