Three Studs, Three Duds From Patriots Preseason Finale Vs. Commanders

The New England Patriots rounded out their 2024 slate of preseason games on Sunday against the Washington Commanders on Sunday night at Commanders Stadium.

After a win over the Carolina Panthers and a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Jerod Mayo learned more about his roster entering his first season with the Patriots.

The standalone matchup on NBC brought along plenty of recurring themes from this preseason: a rookie quarterback taking steps forward, an offensive line incapable of protecting him and a preview of the youth set to step up for New England.

In the 20-10 loss to the Commanders, here are three studs and three duds for the Patriots from Sunday night:

STUDS
— QB Drake Maye
The future franchise quarterback from New England performed like a playmaker on Sunday night.

Despite plenty of instability in front of him, Maye turned in one of his better performances of the summer. The rookie led the only scoring drive of the first half, driving 88 yards and finding running back Kevin Harris for an 18-yard touchdown. He tossed another on an athletic play moving to his left to hit K.J. Osborn, but a penalty on Chukwuma Okorafor negated the play.

Maye finished the night completing 13 of 20 passes for 126 yards and the touchdown for the Patriots.

— LB Joe Giles-Harris
The linebacker enters his fifth NFL season after previous stops with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills.

Giles-Harris intercepted a pass over the middle from Commanders quarterback Jeff Driskel before his return was impacted by a blindside block from the Patriots.

The 27-year-old tallied five tackles along with the interception on Sunday.

— WR Ja’Lynn Polk
The 2024 second-round pick continues to show a strong ability to make difficult catches and find his way open for his quarterbacks.

Polk had multiple first-down catches for the Patriots, headlined by a 29-yard gain off of play-action on Maye’s first drive of the night for New England. His other conversion came back on a holding penalty from New England’s Michael Jordan.

Polk finished the night with two catches for 33 yards.

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DUDS
— OL Nick Leverett
The 27-year-old got the start at center and immediately found himself in trouble.

After the offensive line struggled in front of Jacoby Brissett, who left with a shoulder injury, Leverett delivered a pair of bad snaps that sent Maye scrambling to the ground to jump on the loose ball on the rookie’s first drive.

— OL Chukwuma Okorafor
Okorafor had the penalty that negated what may have been the play of the night on Maye connecting with Osborn for a would-have-been touchdown.

— OL Sidy Sow
Sow struggled early on as well. Starting the play pulling to the right, Sow could not cut off Washington edge rusher KJ Henry, who sacked Jacoby Brissett before the Patriots quarterback had his night close after just one series and an injured shoulder.

Once Maye entered, Sow also stepped on the quarterback’s cleat and left the rookie to dump off a pass with just one shoe.

Sow later left the game with an ankle injury.