The Patriots’ preseason opener was, by and large, a major positive for New England. From the unveiling of the Tom Brady statue, to TreVeyon Henderson’s return of the opening kick for a touchdown, to Efton Chism’s second-half performance, the Patriots stepped on the gas pedal and never let up in their 48-18 win over the Commanders.
However, it wasn’t a great night for Drake Maye.
The second-year quarterback completed three of his five passes for a total of 12 yards. He did run twice — an 11-yard run to pick up a first down and a 5-yard scramble to score a touchdown — but he also took a 15-yard sack and coughed up the football on his third play of the preseason.
The @Commanders defense forces the fumble and the turnover!Stream WASvsNE on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/vEYSMBgDaI
— NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2025
After the game, a reporter told head coach Mike Vrabel that the turnover “probably annoyed you with what he did.”
“I would say you about summed it up,” Vrabel replied.
“That’s a bad decision,” Vrabel added. “I think we’re going to need better from him. I think he knows that. That’s obvious. It 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, who threw 10 interceptions and fumbled nine times (losing two of them) as a rookie, agreed with his head coach’s assessment.
“Just can’t do that on my first time out,” Maye said. “At the end of the day, you just can’t put the defense in that position when games matter, during the season. I told those guys it’s on me, we got to get back out there. Glad I was able to get another series going.”
This particular fumble didn’t prove to be too costly because, first and foremost, it came in a preseason game. But Washington also missed the field goal attempt that came on the ensuing drive.
Still, it was a new reminder that for the Patriots to go far this year, Maye is going to have to find ways to protect the football.
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