Washington Commanders Beat New England Patriots: 3 Takeaways from Win
When the Washington Commanders last beat the New England Patriots, they forced Tom Brady to throw three interceptions. And in its first win over New England since 2003, an interception from rookie safety Quan Martin sealed the 20-17 victory on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
The win was Washington's first at New England since 1996 and capped a hectic week for the Commanders after they traded their top two edge rushers, Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Despite those moves, the team stepped up in the second half to overcome a seven-point deficit in the third quarter.
Here are three takeaways from a huge win for the Commanders (4-5) over the Patriots (2-7)
Offense Making Progress
For the first time since November 2020, the Commanders have gained 400 total yards in back-to-back games.
While it may not have been reflected in how many points they scored, the Washington offense had plenty of success moving the ball and could have won by more if it weren't for a couple of turnovers.
Sam Howell completed 29 of 45 passes for 325 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The interception came in the red zone at the end of the first half when Washington trailed 14-10. Brian Robinson had 18 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown, though he also lost a fumble in the second quarter which led to New England's first touchdown of the game.
After the Patriots extended their lead to 17-10 in the third quarter, Howell led the Commanders on back-to-back scoring drives that were capped by a 33-yard touchdown to Jahan Dotson and a go-ahead field goal by Joey Slye.
Sam Howell had 352 total yards against the New England Patriots.
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In previous weeks, when things turned south for the Commanders' offense, there was no coming back from it. Rather than repeat those struggles, Washington managed to weather the storm and fought back to get back into the win column.
No matter who the win came against, a comeback victory for the Commanders was a pivotal step in the right direction for the offense.
Secondary Steps Up
After trading Sweat and Young, it was unknown what the defense would look like. Without their top two pass rushers, who combined for 11.5 sacks, the defense answered the bell, especially in the second half.
The back end of the Commanders' defense held up well with nine passes defended. Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste led the team with three, while Emmanuel Forbes had two.
Forbes' performance was especially promising after barely playing in the previous three games. Martin also had a pass defended and the game-sealing interception with 38 seconds left to play.
With Sweat and Young gone, if Forbes and Martin can continue to perform as they did against the Patriots, they could form another strong duo for the Commanders' defense.
Commanders Haven't Given Up Yet
After a tumultuous week, it would have been easy for the Commanders to fold, especially after the Patriots scored 17 straight points to take a 17-10 lead, but they didn't. The Commanders fought back and got a pivotal win.
It's proof that they haven't given up on the season or Ron Rivera. While the organization seems to have set its sights on next season, it can still be a tough out and will face many teams with their sights set on the playoffs.
If Washington can continue to put together performances like it did on Sunday, a solid foundation can be laid for next season, no matter who is calling the shots or coaching the team.
