Game Summary
The Patriots fall to 2-7 now after a nail-biting loss to the Commanders Sunday night. By a score of 20-17, the Pats were in this game until the very end when the Commanders sealed their victory with a Jartavius Martin interception off a dropped ball from JuJu Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster, who has emerged as a number one receiver in the absence of Kendrick Bourne, had six receptions for fifty-one yards on the day but couldn't haul in the most important of his seven targets with under a minute to go.
The Patriots took a pick-six in the second quarter to cement a 14-10 lead into halftime. Once they got back on the field for the second half is when it got ugly. The Patriots would go on to be outscored 10-3 from that point with lone score coming within the first drive of the half. After that point there would be 4 punts and the game-ending interception to end their drives.
The Commanders would get most of their offense through the air, with quarterback Sam Howell throwing for 325 yards; his second-highest total of the year. Key platymakers Brian Robinson Jr., Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson would do their part making plays including a 33-yard touchdown to Dotson to tie the game in the 3rd quarter.
With the game coming down to one final drive from the Patriots only needing 3 points to tie and two minutes left, Mac Jones would throw 5/7 passes with 50 yards and bring his team to the 45-yard line. Jones looked sharp and concise and had his team poised to settle for a field goal to go to overtime. With 38 seconds left, Jones had a few more plays to attempt to win the game and made a great leading throw to JuJu Smith-Schuster who had the ball go through his hands and make an unlucky deflection right to Commanders Safety Jartavius Martin. Jones fell to his knees with his head in his hands as if to say, "We were so close."
With this loss, the Patriots have now lost five of their last six games and fall to 1-4 at home. To make matters worse the Patriots offense have once again fallen into the Bottom-5 in total yards and 31st in the league in points-per game.
Injuries
Offensive players Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Devante Parker and Trent Brown are all injured at the moment, along with Matt Judon, Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones and Raekwon McMillan on the defensive side of the ball. Bourne and Gonzalez will be out for the year with Matthew Judon not expected to return until late December. Most of the other inactives will have a chance to be back for Week 10's game in Frankfurt.
Next Week
Coming up next week, the Patriots will face off against the Colts in the NFL's final European game of 2023 in Frankfurt, Germany. The Colts come into the game at 4-5, victorious this week against the Panthers after a 3-game skid prior. The Colts themselves have had defensive failures this season, giving up the 7th most yards and 5th most points this season. The Patriots defense will have their hands full against the Colts offense who rank 10th in rushing yards per game with All-Pro Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss who ranks second in the league in rushing yards.
Even though the Patriots offense has seemed disastrous at times, the Colts defense ranks 10th worst against the pass and may give Mac Jones an opportunity to have one of his best games of the year. The game will be live on the NFL Network at 9:30 AM EST on Sunday November 12th.
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-Z.D.
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