The Washington Commanders (3-5) have had an interesting week. On Tuesday, Washington traded starting defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the NFL trade deadline. Losing two notable starters would lead one to believe the Commanders were punting on the remainder of this season. That’s not the case, as head coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Sam Howell believe this team is still capable of making a playoff push.
Next up for the Commanders are the New England Patriots (2-6). These arent the same Patriots Washington will remember from 2019. Yes, legendary coach Bill Belichick is still on the sidelines, but quarterback Tom Brady is long gone. This New England team is struggling while still trying to find an identity.
But Washington hasn’t beaten the Patriots since 2003 — when Steve Spurrier was head coach. And there have been some ugly losses over the years.
As the Commanders prepare for Week 9, here are five Patriots you should get to know ahead of Sunday.
QB Mac Jones
Mac Jones is now in his third NFL season and continues to struggle at times. In fairness to Jones, he’s had three different offensive coordinators in three seasons. He also doesn’t have a ton of help at the skill positions. That’s not to let Jones off the hook, as the 2021 first-round pick still makes frustrating mistakes. If Jones is going to get back on track, the Commanders could be the perfect opponent.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Rhamondre Stevenson is New England’s top offensive player. Despite that distinction, Stevenson still splits time in the backfield with Ezekiel Elliott. Stevenson is a powerful back who can also make an impact in the passing game. Stevenson is second only to Bourne with 25 receptions.
TE Hunter Henry
When you think of a Patriots tight end, Rob Gronkowski immediately comes to mind. Hunter Henry is no Gronk, however, Henry is an excellent receiver and an integral part of New England’s struggling offense. With Kendrick Bourne out for the remainder of the season, don’t be surprised if the Patriots feature Henry as Jones’ top target in the passing game.
EDGE Josh Uche
The Patriots badly miss Matthew Judon. However, they’ve also been without Josh Uche recently. Uche has been limited at practice this week, so New England is hopeful that Uche can play on Sunday. With so many teams needing help at pass rusher, Uche’s name was a popular one ahead of the NFL trade deadline. He will be New England’s top pass rusher off the edge — if he plays. Uche had 11.5 sacks in 2022.
S Kyle Dugger
Kyle Dugger is one of the NFL’s most underrated defensive backs. Dugger is a safety, but he can play everywhere. Bill Belichick has lined Dugger up at safety, slot corner, outside cornerback and linebacker. He’s a playmaker wherever he’s at. If Belichick trusts a player like he does Dugger, it’s a good indication of what type of player he is.
