The Washington Commanders begin their 2025 preseason campaign with an away game against the New England Patriots on Friday, August 8, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. This Commanders vs Patriots preseason matchup marks the first exhibition contest for both teams, offering early glimpses of rookies and depth players as they vie for roster spots. The game will not be nationally televised but can be viewed locally in the Washington area on NBC4 or streamed via the Commanders’ app. For fans, who often travel north to Commanders Field or follow the team closely amid the region’s mix of allegiances, this opener provides a low-stakes opportunity to assess the squad’s progress under second-year head coach Dan Quinn.
Coming off a breakout 2024 regular season where they finished 12-5 and advanced to the NFC Championship before falling short, the Commanders enter the Commanders vs Patriots preseason game with momentum. That campaign featured rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leading a dynamic offense, tripling the win total from the prior year and injecting optimism into a franchise long seeking stability. Daniels completed the season with strong numbers, including a league-ranking sixth in offensive points per game at 28.8. The team’s overall offensive yards averaged 373.3 per contest, placing fifth in the NFL, while the defense ranked 15th league-wide, allowing 24.9 points per game. This success built on Quinn’s first-year defensive schemes, which emphasized versatility and resilience, helping the Commanders secure a playoff berth for the first time since 2020.
In contrast, the Patriots limp into the Commanders vs Patriots preseason tilt after a dismal 4-13 record in 2024, finishing fourth in the AFC East for the second straight year. This marked the first time in nearly 60 years that New England endured consecutive seasons with fewer than five wins, echoing a rough stretch from 1967-1970. The Patriots have posted losing records in four of the last five seasons, all since the departure of quarterback Tom Brady, and missed the playoffs for three consecutive years—their longest drought since 1987-1993. Entering his first season as head coach, Mike Vrabel becomes the third different leader in as many years, following Jerod Mayo’s one-season tenure and the legendary Bill Belichick’s 24-year run that yielded six Super Bowl titles. The last time the Patriots opened with new head coaches three years in a row was 1989-1991, a period of similar instability.
Schedule-wise, the Commanders vs Patriots preseason game is Washington’s road opener, followed by home contests against the Cincinnati Bengals on August 18 and the Baltimore Ravens on August 23. For the Patriots, Friday’s outing is their sole preseason home game, with their next home appearance coming in the regular-season debut against the Las Vegas Raiders on an unspecified date in September. Despite back-to-back four-win campaigns, New England faces three prime-time regular-season games in 2025: Week 5 at Buffalo, Week 11 versus the New York Jets, and Week 13 against the New York Giants. Three of the Patriots’ first four regular-season games are at home, potentially aiding an early rebound under Vrabel.
Offensively, the Commanders showcased balance in 2024, ranking sixth in points scored and fifth in total yards. Their passing attack, led by Daniels, contributed to a top-tier unit, while the rushing game supported overall efficiency. Tackles leader Bobby Wagner anchored the defense with 132 stops, and edge rusher Frankie Luvu notched 8.0 sacks. Interceptions were paced by cornerback Mike Sainristil with two. The Patriots, however, struggled mightily on offense last season, averaging just 17.0 points per game (30th in the NFL) and 291.9 total yards (31st). They ranked 13th in rushing at 115.8 yards per game but dead last in passing with 176.1 yards. New England failed to score 30 points in any game for the second straight year, extending a 45-game streak—the longest active in the league and tied for ninth-longest since the 1970 merger. Their lone bright spot was reducing interceptions from 21 in 2023 to 11, despite starting a rookie quarterback for 12 games.
Defensively, Washington allowed 343.0 yards per game in 2024 (15th ranking), with strengths in forcing turnovers and limiting big plays. The Patriots’ defense fared moderately, ranking 22nd in total yards allowed at 343.4 per game and 22nd in points at 24.5. They excelled against the pass (10th, 211.5 yards) but lagged in run defense (23rd, 131.4 yards) and takeaways, tying for second-fewest with 12. New England managed only 28 sacks—the league’s lowest—and posted a -11 turnover differential for the second year running. When holding opponents under 350 yards, the Patriots went 4-2; otherwise, they were 0-11.
Both teams bolstered their rosters in the 2025 NFL Draft to address key needs. The Commanders, picking later due to their strong 2024 finish, selected offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. from Oregon at No. 29 overall to fortify the line, which allowed fewer sacks than in prior years but still seeks depth. In the second round (No. 61), they took cornerback Trey Amos, followed by wide receiver Jaylin Lane in the fourth (No. 128) and linebacker Kain Medrano in the sixth (No. 205). This draft class aims to sustain the offensive firepower and defensive grit that propelled Washington to 12 wins.
The Patriots, with the fourth overall pick, grabbed offensive tackle Will Campbell from LSU to combat their 52 sacks allowed (tied for 27th). They added running back TreVeyon Henderson (No. 38, Ohio State) for a ground game that has produced just one 1,000-yard rusher in eight years, wide receiver Kyle Williams (No. 69, Washington State), and offensive lineman Jared Wilson (No. 95, Georgia). Later rounds included safety Craig Woodson (No. 106), defensive tackle Joshua Farmer (No. 137), defensive end Bradyn Swinson (No. 146), kicker Andres Borregales (No. 182), and three seventh-rounders: offensive lineman Marcus Bryant (No. 220), long snapper Julian Ashby (No. 251), and defensive back Kobee Minor (No. 257). With 11 picks—the most since 2023—New England focused on rebuilding trenches and special teams.
This Commanders vs Patriots preseason game echoes last year’s exhibition, where Washington defeated New England 20-10 at NorthWest Field during the 2024 preseason. While preseason results hold little predictive value, the contest allows coaches to evaluate talent in live action. For the Commanders, it’s a chance to build on Daniels’ rookie magic and Quinn’s schemes; for the Patriots, it’s Vrabel’s debut amid a franchise reset. The rivalry, though not divisional, carries historical weight from past Super Bowl encounters, adding intrigue to this early tune-up.
