The Washington Commanders defeated the New England Patriots in a preseason finale, with rookie quarterback Drake Maye making a strong case for the starting job. Maye completed 13 of 20 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. However, the Patriots’ offensive line struggled, resulting in an injury to Jacoby Brissett.
Commanders coach Dan Quinn praised the performance of defensive tackles Phidarian Mathis and John Ridgeway, who made strong final statements to secure spots on the roster. The Commanders will have tough decisions to make at the position, with Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne named as starters.
On special teams, both teams saw action from their kickers. New England’s Joey Slye attempted long field goals that fell short, while Washington’s Cade York, acquired in a trade, was successful in his 2 attempts.
Looking ahead, the Patriots will open the regular season against Cincinnati, while the Commanders will face Tampa Bay. Washington’s coach expressed the team’s intention to be aggressive in improving after a lack of discipline on the field and indicated they will be active on the waiver wire to find better players.
The preseason game was seen as an opportunity for rookies and backup players to make an impact before the start of the regular season. The Commanders finished with a 1-2 record, while the Patriots ended at 1-2 as well.
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