Hail of a Start: Commanders vs. Patriots Preseason Week 1 Preview with Promising Signs from Roster Backups
Following last year’s program-changing performance, the Washington Commanders kick off their preseason on Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the New England Patriots.
This Wednesday, the teams had a joint practice, which certainly set the offensive tone for the upcoming game.
Against the Patriots’ defense, Quarterback Jayden Daniels had zero interceptions, two touchdown passes to Luke McCaffery and Ja’Corey Brooks, and completed most of his passes. Head coach Dan Quinn did specify that Daniels will not be taking the field on Friday, although it is good to know that Daniels is performing well against a new defensive line.
“He’ll play a lot today, and I think that’s important. It’s different looks, different systems, different calls,” Quinn said.
Quinn hinted that no starters would play on Friday. Fans can expect a lot of playing time from younger players and backups. By watching and getting a glimpse into the athletes who are not always in the headlines, fans can get a more accurate sense of how the season might unfold if injuries affect key players.
Due to backup quarterback Marcus Mariota’s current leg strain, Josh Johnson and Sam Hartman will most likely lead the offense on Friday. Unless other backup players step it up on Friday, the offense will struggle with its typical effectiveness.
On the other side of the ball, the starting defensive line kept Patriots’ Quarterback, Drake Maye, out of the end zone with cornerback Mike Sainristil catching an interception in the end zone during practice on Wednesday.
Linebacker Kain Medrano and Safety Percy Butler showed strong coverage skills across the board. Over the past few practices, Medrano has played exceptionally well and is playing with more confidence. He has closed gaps and made many tackles.
Defense has not always been Washington’s strong suit; however, this joint practice gives fans hope for what they might do on Friday and this season. It is common for defensive lines not to give it their all during preseason, and fans can expect a possible vanilla-like performance.
The Patriots completed last season in 30th place in points scored over the NFL season, when Washington was in 5th place with 485 points, according to statistics on PFF. Although preseason games lack ferocity, fans could expect a Washington win due to these statistics.
Fans may not see the spotlight names on the field, but a foundation will be laid for another program-defining year.
For the Commanders, this is more than just a preseason game. Friday night will be an opportunity to build off of Wednesday’s strong joint practice and start the year off right. Whether it’s the defense continuing to find its rhythm or seeing what kind of talent the backups have, Friday night will provide a crucial glimpse into what lies ahead.