The New England Patriots’ preseason opener was a resounding success, as they defeated the Washington Commanders 48-18 under new head coach Mike Vrabel. Key highlights included Tom Brady receiving a new statue and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson hitting a leadoff home run.
However, it’s essential to note that the Commanders were missing 30 of their top players due to injuries or other reasons, while the Patriots played with most of their starting lineup. The preseason is notoriously unpredictable, as seen in the 2008 Detroit Lions’ case, who went undefeated in pre-season games before failing miserably in the regular season.
Despite this, the Patriots showed promise under Vrabel’s guidance, and fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the regular season to see how their new coach will fare.
Source: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/08/09/sports/patriots-preseason-game-vs-commanders