FOXBORO — The Patriots solidified themselves as not only a group with a nasty report however a legitimately dangerous group Sunday after they couldn’t beat the lowly Commanders at house in Gillette Stadium.
The Commanders, who dealt away two of their finest defenders in defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat earlier than final week’s commerce deadline in an indication that they didn’t plan on being aggressive in 2023, mounted a 20-17 lead with practically 17 minutes left within the recreation and gave the Patriots 4 drives to tie or acquire a lead. The Patriots mixed for simply three first downs and 62 yards on 15 performs on the primary three of these 4 offensive sequence, all of which led to punts.
Quarterback Mac Jones tossed an interception by the arms of vast receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster with 38 seconds left within the recreation, ending the Patriots’ closing comeback bid.
The Patriots are actually 2-7 on the season after Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the 4-5 Commanders.
The Commanders bought out to an early lead when the Patriots turned the ball over on downs after an 11-play drive that picked up simply 45 yards on their first offensive sequence. Commanders quarterback Sam Howell used the brief discipline to his benefit on a nine-play, 42-yard drive that ended with a discipline objective.
The Patriots went three-and-out on their subsequent two drives. An 11-play, 80-yard Commanders landing drive was sandwiched between the 2 punts. Running again Brian Robinson capped issues off with a 9-yard landing run.
Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai kickstarted a comeback when he compelled a fumble by Robinson early within the second quarter. Tavai punched out the soccer, which was recovered by defensive deal with Davon Godchaux.
It took simply three performs for Jones to march the offense 25 yards down the sector. Jones hit tight finish Hunter Henry ultimately zone on a 14-yard landing cross, one among his better of the complete season.
The Patriots’ protection compelled one other punt earlier than Jones and the offense made fast work of the Commanders’ protection. Jones hit JuJu Smith-Schuster on the vast receiver’s longest reception of the season, a 20-yarder. Then working again Rhamondre Stevenson ran by an enormous gap opened up by veteran heart David Andrews and rookie proper guard Sidy Sow for a protracted 64-yard landing run. It was the longest speeding play of the season by the Patriots. Their earlier long term was a 20-yarder from rookie vast receiver Demario Douglas.
The Commanders ought to have scored to finish the half, however Howell chucked the ball to Patriots security Kyle Dugger ultimately zone for an interception. That got here after the Commanders had transformed first downs on third-and-10 and third-and-23 on the drive. The latter, picked up on a 24-yard scramble by Howell, who’s not precisely a velocity demon, was one of many worst performs of the season for the Patriots that noticed safeties Adrian Phillips and Jalen Mills whiff badly on tackles.
The Patriots elected to kneel on the ball to finish the half. They benefitted from a really questionable roughing the passer penalty on the primary drive of the second half when Jones seemed to be sacked by rookie defensive finish KJ Henry. Officials flagged the hit, giving the Patriots a brand new set of downs in discipline objective vary. Rookie Chad Ryland hit a 43-yard discipline objective to provide the Patriots a 17-10 lead.
The Commanders tied the sport on their subsequent drive, ending off a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 33-yard landing cross from Howell to vast receiver Jahan Dotson. After a Patriots punt, the Commanders knocked by a discipline objective to provide them a 20-17 lead.
Jones went 24-of-44 for 220 yards with a landing and interception in one other middling efficiency. The Patriots appeared to bench cornerbacks J.C. Jackson and Jack Jones to start the sport. Shaun Wade began reverse cornerback Jonathan Jones earlier than taking up a reserve position.
BEST
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Vintage Stevenson confirmed up on Sunday because the beginning working again ripped off a 64-yard landing run. He carried the ball 9 occasions for 87 yards with the landing.
LB Jahlani Tavai: A shiny spot all season, the versatile defender punched out the ball to power a fumble by Commanders working again Brian Robinson early within the second quarter.
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley: Bentley completed the day with two sacks and led the group with 12 tackles.
WORST
S Adrian Phillips: The veteran security, who’s seen his snaps diminish this season, was concerned in maybe the Patriots’ worst defensive play of the season when Howell picked up a primary down scrambling on third-and-23. Phillips badly whiffed on the deal with, permitting Howell get away and scamper previous the first-down marker.
S Jalen Mills: Mills, who’s additionally seen his taking part in time lower, additionally missed a deal with on Howell’s first-down scramble. It was an unsightly play.
Special groups: For a group that’s invested a lot in particular groups, it was an unsightly day on the workplace Sunday. They allowed a 37-yard return to begin the sport, Douglas went backward for two yards on a punt return, punter Bryce Baringer had a touchback from the Patriots’ 47-yard line, special-teamer Brenden Schooler pushed the Patriots’ offense again with a facemask on a fourth-down punt return, linebacker Mack Wilson gave the Commanders a recent set of downs by going offside on punt-return duties late within the fourth quarter, and Schooler was flagged once more for a maintain on a punt return earlier than the two-minute warning.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: The veteran free-agent addition’s late drop led to Jones’ interception. He caught six passes on seven targets for 51 yards.
Source: www.bostonherald.com