Mike Vrabel brought out the Patriots’ shiny new offensive weapon this preseason opener. Drake Maye and the squad were almost untouchable against the Commanders. TreVeyon Henderson started the game with a bang, returning the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. That big play by the Patriots’ rookie running back helped New England go on to beat the Washington Commanders 48-18. Well, not everything went perfectly, as both Maye and Vrabel pointed out during the game.

The New England Patriots crushed the Washington 48-18, taking control early. One hiccup was when Maye fumbled. He played two series to start the game. It came when the Patriots needed 7 yards for a first down. Maye went back to throw, but a Washington defender rushed at him fast. While trying to pass, the ball slipped from his hand, and Washington took it at the Patriots’ 30-yard line.

“That’s a bad decision. I think we’re gonna need better from him, and I think he knows that. And that’s obvious. [The play] wasn’t there, and we just have to deal with it,” Vrabel said

“We’ll have to tackle better, and we’ll have to throw the football better going forward. But I thought this was a good start,” Head coach Vrabel said. Both Vrabel and Maye shared different opinions. Maye said, “It’s disappointing…you’ve got a little bit of a drive going, third down – you can’t do that. Glad we responded well, but at the same time, that’s something I can control. You can’t put the defense in that position.”

Maye bounced back on his second drive, hitting one of three passes for nine yards, scrambling 11 yards on a second-and-10, and then running it in from the 5-yard line for a touchdown. Still, with a head coach who constantly stresses on better game, it wasn’t surprising to see the head coach’s reminder. He didn’t try to hide the mistake in what was otherwise a good game.

On defense, cornerback DJ James came up big, jumping a route to pick off Washington’s Sam Hartman and flipping the field in New England’s favor.  Veteran Josh Johnson took over in the second half and gave Washington’s offense a little more juice, going 15-of-22 for 173 yards with a touchdown pass. While there were mistakes, the Pats managed to recover from the win.

The night felt even more special with the team honoring Tom Brady by unveiling a 12-foot bronze statue.

Patriots honored Tom Brady’s legacy with a bronze statue

The excitement was buzzing even before the game. The most decorated player in NFL history was honored with a 17-foot bronze statue outside Gillette Stadium. The unveiling took place before the New England Patriots’ preseason opener against the Washington Commanders in Foxborough. The statue’s features also pay tribute to the Patriots.

The six-sided granite base represents the franchise’s six Super Bowl wins, while the 12-foot-tall bronze figure commemorates Brady’s uniform number. Including the base, the total height matches the 17 AFC East titles the Patriots won during Brady’s 19 seasons with the team. The six-ton work was created by lifelong Patriots fan and sculptor Jeff Buccacio.

Brady, who retired in 2023, holds the NFL records for most wins, passing yards, and passing touchdowns in both the regular season and playoffs. It was just last year when the team retired his No. 12 jersey and announced he would be the first player in team history to have a statue outside the stadium.

At the ceremony, Brady addressed the crowd and expressed his gratitude. There was some controversy too. The legend’s parents and children, former teammates Devin and Jason McCourty, Wes Welker, David Andrews, and Brian Hoyer were also in attendance.

Members of the Commanders organization, including general manager Adam Peters and defensive end Deatrich Wise, a former Patriot, were also present to celebrate the honor.