A spirited Washington Commanders second-string defense held New England Patriots offensive starters to seven points during the first half of a 20-10 Commanders win in the NFL’s final 2024 preseason game nationally televised at Commanders Stadium.
The win, while inconsequential to the regular season, still displayed an aggressive stature for the Commanders defense. During the first drive of the game, defensive lineman K.J. Henry sacked Patriots starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett injuring his right shoulder. Brissett would finish the series but it would also end his night.
Rookie and third-round pick in the draft Drake Maye came into the game battling Brissett for the starting QB position. On their next offensive series, Maye led the Patriots first string offense 88 yards in 11 plays for the game’s first score. Facing a 3rd and 14, at their own 8, Maye scrambled against the Commanders second string defense for 17 yards and without sliding he moved the ball forward to the 25 for a first down. Later in the drive, Maye hit receiver Ja’Lynn Polk with a perfectly timed 29-yard out pattern deep left to the Commanders 38-yard line. On 3rd and 8 from the Washington 34, Maye threw behind to wide receiver Demario Douglas who held onto the ball for 16 yards and then one play later, Maye flipped a short pass into the right flat to Kevin Harris who spun around past the Commanders defender and down the sidelines diving into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
For Jeff Driskell, third-string quarterback for the Commanders, it was a struggle to move the backup Commanders offense against the first-string Patriots defense. Meantime, the Commanders defense increased its pressure on Maye and made it difficult for Maye to complete passes behind a patchwork offensive line due to injuries. Prior to halftime, Joey Slye attempted a 64-yard field goal that fell short and the score remained 7-0.
NBC football analyst Cris Collingsworth was quick to remind viewers at the beginning of the game that the Commanders were the worst defense in the league last year. But Collingsworth also commended the Commanders second-string defense for holding the Patriots first-string offense to only seven points after the first half.
In the third quarter, Washingtonian native Trace McSorley replaced Driskell at quarterback and took charge of the offense as the Patriots took out their starters and brought in second and third-string defensive players.
McSorley drove the Commanders offense 54 yards on 14 plays, including McSorley scrambling for yardage twice for 21yards. The drive ended with a Cade York 34-yard field goal cutting the score to 7-3.
Joe Milton III took over as quarterback for the Patriots in the second half. Milton scrambled for 20 yards to the Washington 36 and after firing a 12-yard pass to receiver Kawaan Baker on 3rd and 9 at the Washington 23, the drive stalled after Milton and fourth round pick Javon Baker were unable to connect on a third down pass on the left side. Milton drove the Patriots from the New England 43-yard line to the Commanders 20 in the middle of the third quarter and after a 38-yard field goal by kicker Chad Ryland, who is competing against Slye for the kicker position, New England was up 10-3.
McSorley and the Commanders offense countered with a 10 play, 55-yard drive culminating in a 33-yard field goal by York, who may have cemented a spot on the roster with two field goals on two attempts and two extra points.
After driving to their 45, Milton and the offense stalled. New England punted to the Commanders and with the ball on their own 10, McSorley fired a pass on target to tight end Cole Turner who took a hit but held onto the ball at the 35 for a 25-yard gain. Three plays later, McSorley threw up a 45-yard pass to Martavis Bryant, recently picked up by the Commanders. Bryant drew a pass interference penalty that brought the ball to the New England 9-yard line. The next play, Michael Wiley sprinted around left for 9 yards and a touchdown, putting the Commanders up for the first time 13-10.
Milton drove the Patriots offense again into Commanders territory to the Washington 15 yard line but rather than kick a field goal to tie the preseason game, new Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo opted to keep the offense on the field on 4th and 4. Milton scrambled to the right end but held onto the ball and Commanders linebacker Chapelle Russell, signed earlier last week, caught up to Milton and held him to one yard.
McSorley took over and drove the Commanders offense down the field with two throws drawing pass interference penalties, including one against a Bryant defender that moved the ball from the New England 29 to the 10-yard line. Two plays later, McSorley threw a quick 4-yard strike on an inside slant to Bryant for the touchdown putting an exclamation point on an impressive performance by McSorley, who grew up as a Commanders fan in Ashburn, Va.
Whether or not this performance will put McSorley into the third string slot at quarterback remains to be seen. Jayden Daniels will be starting for the Commanders when the season opens on September 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa. Marcus Mariota will be his backup.
For Patriots head coach Mayo, he will need to decide early this week on starting Brissett at QB against the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener or Maye, who has proven himself as a capable quarterback ready to start.
All NFL teams must also trim their rosters to 53 players prior to Tuesday at 4 p.m., Eastern.
The post Commanders Backups Hold Off Patriots Starters in 20-10 Preseason Finale appeared first on Marylandsportsblog.com.