Patriots Rout Commanders in First Preseason Game
New England Patriots defeat Washington Commanders - 2025 Preseason Week 1
The game on Friday could not have started any better for New England. Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson fielded the opening kickoff and shot through the Commanders' defense, taking it 100 yards to score. That play set the tone for the whole game. New England destroyed the Commanders on the scoreboard, winning by a final score of 48-18. The 48 points are the most that the Pats have ever scored in a preseason game, beating their previous record of 47 set in 2011 against the Jaguars (Patriots.com).
However, the score does not tell the whole story. According to PFF, the teams were nearly even in most offensive metrics. The Patriots only had 11 more offensive yards than the Commanders, and only two more first downs. However, the big difference throughout was that the Patriots' returners were getting the team such great field position that they did not even have to drive much to run up the score. New England's third-string running back, Antonio Gibson, had a 62-yard kick return of his own in the second quarter.
Fan favorite Efton Chism III, an undrafted rookie receiver who’s been making noise in training camp, gave his supporters plenty to talk about. He had a good kick return that went 11 yards, and led the team in targets (8), receptions (6), and yards (50) (ESPN). He also tacked on a touchdown in the third quarter. I saw flashes of potential to fill the Julian Edelman/Wes Welker slot role, and not just because Chism is short and white. He broke tackles and had the most contested catches of any receiver in preseason week one (PFF).
The team’s first pick in the 2025 draft, Will Campbell, also showed his blocking prowess in the few drives he played. He was finishing blocks more than ten yards downfield, paving the way for big runs. Center Garrett Bradbury was very impressive, leading all centers in the NFL with a 92.4 run blocking grade (PFF).
On the other side of the ball, the defense did its part in contributing to the lopsided score. 2025 4th-round safety Craig Woodson showed out, leading the team in tackles and adding a QB hit. Defensive backs Jordan Polk and D.J. James both snagged interceptions, which led to ten points combined. James looked like a stud and could be a breakout candidate in his second year on the team. Meanwhile, safety turned linebacker Marte Mapu looked awful. I talked about his difficult road to making the roster in my pregame article (Game Preview), and the Commanders were picking on him all game long.
Overall, you couldn’t ask for a better result to kick off the Vrabel era in New England. The Patriots now head to Minnesota to take on the Vikings in their second preseason matchup, and I can’t wait to see if our guys can keep the momentum going.