BSJ Game Report: Patriots 48, Commanders 18 - Successful for Vrabel thanks to Henderson, defense

Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ preseason win over the Commanders in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

TreVeyon Henderson announces his presence with authority: How's this for your first (sort of) NFL touch?

Henderson also had an 18-yard run, and three catches for 12 yards. He showed exactly what he's displayed in practice to get a lot of well-deserved accolades.

Drake Maye turns it over, rushes for TD: If there was one negative in this game, it was that the passing offense didn't do very much. At halftime, Maye and Josh Dobbs had 42 net yards passing in going a combined 8 for 17. Maye was 3 of 5 for 12 yards, and he also had this fumble after Jared Wilson and Will Campbell couldn't handle a game up front.

Mike Vrabel didn't love it, and let his QB know.

"I think that’s a poor decision by our quarterback, and he knows that," he told WBZ at halftime.

After the game, Vrabel expounded on it.

"That's a bad decision, and I think we're going to need better from him, and I think he knows that, and that's obvious," Vrabel said. "Wasn't there. We just have to be able to find a way to get rid of the football or take a sack and punt and play defense."

Maye on the play:

"Can't do that, you know, first time out, you know, just put a damper," he said. "I'm glad we responded well that next drive. I'm glad it's something I can control, you know, but at the end day, you just can't put the defense in that position. When games matter during the season. I told you those guys that saw me, 'We got to get back out there.' And glad I was able to get another series going."

Maye did have a 5-yard scamper on his final play when a huge hole opened.

It sure seemed like the goal of the passing game was just to get out of this game healthy and without exposing the offensive line that much. There was no playaction, Maye had one deep shot to Mack Hollins that was out of bounds. In the third quarter, the average air yards for the Patriots were 7.3 per attempt, and they had 3.3 yards per attempt.

Dobbs, especially, was inaccurate. He missed Kyle Williams for a touchdown high, Efton Chism high, and he underthrew back-to-back deep passes to Williams after he had won off the line.

Ja'Lynn Polk goes down with an injury: Polk didn't get a pass thrown his way, but he did get an end around, and his season could already be over. He went to the blue tent and then the locker room with his head in a towel after suffering an apparent injury to the same shoulder he had surgery on in the offseason.

FOUR UP

RB TreVeyon Henderson: This is a no-brainer. He continued to show the juice he has in practice.

CB DJ James: Had an interception on a bad pass by the awful Sam Hartman, and he also had three tackles. Just keeps making plays.

All the running backs: Sure seemed like the edict from Vrabel to the team was to finish plays as we saw Will Campbell drive a couple of DBs into the ground, and every single running back was laying the wood to the Commanders' defenders. RB coach Tony Dews' guys were doing work.

DE Truman Jones: He got a lot of work early and he was all over the place making disruptive plays in pass rush and against the run. Milton Williams also flashed a few times with penetration.

THREE DOWN

The passing game: I'm sure Josh McDaniels had his reasons (probably mostly building confidence for the offensive line and his young QB) for the short and quick attack, but it was pretty boring. Would have been nice to see any playaction, which has been a big weapon in practice.

Drake Maye's fumble: Just throw the ball away.

Dan Quinn: He didn't play anyone in this game, which makes it a little hard to judge what's what.

INJURIES

WR Ja'Lynn Polk: Appeared to suffer a serious left shoulder injury.

C Alec Lindstrom: Suffered a foot injury late. Cole Strange came back in to play center, but Lindstrom came back in before Strange could take a snap.

TOP PLAYS

THOUGHTS AND NOTES

• Patriots DC Terrell Williams is up in the booth tonight, and Mike Vrabel said they're still sorting it out as to whether Williams will be upstairs or on the sideline when the season begins. 
• Not spotted in pregame warmups:
  Diggs
  Moses (Marcus Bryant at RT)
  Wallace
  Barmore
  Landry
  Gonzalez
  Davis
  Chaisson
  Tavai
  Bourne
• Official DNPs for both sides: 
• 
• Pop Douglas, Cole Strange, Truman Jones and Khyiris Tonga were the game captains. Probably as a reward for a good week of work.
• Opening OL was: Campbell, Wilson, Bradbury, Onwenu and Marcus Bryant. Ben Brown got the second series at center. Strange played two series at RG, a spot I had never seen him play. Brown played LG for a series. Bryant and Demontrey Jacobs flip-flopped between LT and RT.
• Vrabel challenged two calls before halftime. The first was not successful.
• Rookie DT Josh Farmer played a lot and early. That was a surprise. He dealt with an injury at one point and hasn't been on the practice field all that much.
• Anfernee Jennings was on the field for the final drive of the game. Not a great sign.
• Kyle Dugger started at safety with Jabrill Peppers, and Jaylinn Hawkins was the third safety. Craig Woodson, who led the team with three special teams tackles, came on in the second half.
• Javon Baker has two special teams tackles, along with Truman Jones.
• Marte Mapu led the team with four tackles (three solo).
• Patriots had zero penalties in the first half (a couple were offsetting). Pretty clean and professional outing for the Fighting Vrabels.
• Both kickers went head-to-head, and they both made all their kicks. Parker Romo hitting from 57 yards was the highlight, and he added three extra points. Andy Borregales made a 22-yard field goal and three extra points.
• RB Lan Larison showed nice burst and finish. Efton Chism showed well.
• Next home game: Sept. 7 against the Raiders in the season opener.