The Washington Commanders opened their 2025 preseason with a 48-18 loss to the New England Patriots on August 8 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Fifteen penalties, special teams breakdowns and execution errors across all units marred the performance, prompting head coach Dan Quinn to emphasize the need for immediate corrections ahead of the next game.
Quinn expressed frustration in his postgame press conference, highlighting the sloppiness that contradicted the team’s standards. “I thought it was sloppy tonight,” Quinn said. The Commanders’ 15 penalties yielded 98 yards to the Patriots, affecting offense, defense and special teams. Examples included a defensive facemask on a TreVeyon Henderson run, a holding call nullifying a 16-yard reception by rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt and an illegal block erasing 10 yards from a Kazmeir Allen return. Quinn attributed some issues to “overtrying” and others to “a lack of focus.” “Those are the ones that irritate me and drive me up a wall,” Quinn said.
With 10 days until their next Washington Commanders preseason matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on August 18, Quinn plans to address these miscues. The team had performed cleanly in a joint practice with the Patriots earlier in the week, making the game-day lapses particularly confounding.
Rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, a seventh-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, provided a bright spot despite modest stats of 32 yards on eight touches. His vision, ability to break arm tackles and one-cut style stood out, though a penalty wiped away his 16-yard reception that included a juke for extra yards and a potential first down. “I like the skills that we’re seeing from Bill,” Quinn said, using the player’s nickname. “I’m encouraged by what I’ve seen so far. I know he was amped and ready to go for tonight.” Croskey-Merritt’s night ended early due to a shoulder issue, but his quickness and ball security position him as a contender for a roster spot. Drafted at No. 245 overall, he excelled in shotgun runs in college, aligning with the Commanders’ offensive tendencies.
Special teams, which Quinn described as a “flagship” unit, struggled significantly. The kickoff coverage allowed 187 yards on three returns, including a 100-yard touchdown by Henderson on the opening play. “It stung for us tonight,” Quinn said. Kicker Matt Gay missed a 49-yard field goal attempt following a sack-fumble by Jer’Zhan Newton and recovery by Jacob Martin that positioned the offense at the Patriots’ 31-yard line. Quinn called the performance “a gut punch,” “confusing” and “surprising,” noting it fell short of daily practice emphasis. Although starters were absent from the unit, Quinn stressed accountability for all players.
First-round offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., selected No. 29 overall from Oregon, built on a strong joint practice with solid game snaps. He played 21 snaps without allowing a sack, excelling in run blocking. Conerly cleared a lane for Croskey-Merritt’s five-yard first-down run via a combo block with his guard before engaging a linebacker. His quickness shone on a screen pass, maintaining position against a safety. “Protection to his side felt strong,” Quinn said. “It just felt clean for him.” Conerly’s progress suggests he could vie for a starting role, potentially on the right side alongside veteran Laremy Tunsil.
The lopsided score must be contextualized as preseason, with about a third of the Commanders’ roster sidelined, including quarterback Jayden Daniels, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, tackle Laremy Tunsil and edge rusher Von Miller. The Patriots fielded several starters early under new head coach Mike Vrabel. The game served as a learning experience for younger players, exposing them to the franchise’s expectations and the consequences of falling short.
Preseason games evaluate depth and identify areas for improvement, not define seasonal outcomes. The Commanders retain a promising core, including Daniels and enhanced protection, positioning them for regular-season contention. Their next Washington Commanders preseason test offers a chance to demonstrate growth.
