Game Observations: Eight Takeaways From the Patriots Preseason Finale in Washington

By my live charting, Maye had five plus-plays to three minus throws. Those are the ups and downs of a 21-year-old rookie, but his talent is evident. Maye made decisive decisions, maneuvered the pocket well with good poise, and flashed his big play ability in and out of structure. If it wasn’t for the eighth penalty of the half on the O-Line, we would’ve seen the off-script playmaking Maye brings to the table on a 48-yard touchdown to KJ Osborn.

Maye’s physical tools are all over his film in the last two preseason games. The strides he’s making with his footwork and timing should get him on the field soon. At this point, it’s a matter of whether Maye can protect himself well enough by rearranging the chessboard before the snap. If he can, he should play because he’s injecting the difference-making energy into the offense.

3. Starting QB Jacoby Brissett Plays Eight Snaps, Takes a Big Hit to Right Shoulder on Sack

The Patriots current starter played one series and the offense moved the ball into Washington territory. However, a first-down sack derailed the drive and caused some damage to Brissett’s right shoulder. In his post-game press conference, Coach Mayo said Brissett could’ve returned to the game if it was the regular season.

As for his performance, Brissett took advantage of a busted coverage by the Commanders to convert on third down by finding RB Antonio Gibson in the flat. He also threw a catchable deep ball to KJ Osborn late in the down that should’ve been a big play on third-and-11. Brissett’s preseason stats remain pedestrian, but he also had significant offensive line issues. Brissett’s availability is a major storyline heading into the regular season.

4. Reconfigured Starting Five Doesn’t Solve Patriots O-Line Issues

The Patriots rolled with the starting five we’d project to play in Week 1 vs. the Bengals: LT Chuks Okorafor, LG Sidy Sow, C Nick Leverett, RG Layden Robinson, and RT Mike Onwenu. Obviously, captain David Andrews, who had the night off vs. the Commanders, will take Leverett’s place in the starting lineup when we do this for real in Cincy.

New England’s goal to find their “best five” along the offensive line in camp hit a turning point when fourth-rounder Layden Robinson was elevated to the starting five. Robinson had a strong summer, showing off excellent power and good initial burst out of his stance. Onwenu kicks outside to right tackle to accommodate Robinson, which is a question mark seeing that it’s not Onwenu’s best position, but big Mike has proven to be an above-average right tackle.

At left tackle, this feels like a position battle that’ll continue into the regular season between Okorafor and Vederian Lowe. Lowe is not healthy right now, so Chuks got the nod. The Pats need to survive the season at left tackle, which they’ll leave up to Lowe and Okorafor. Although that could get dicey, the other four-fifths of the line with one of their rookie draft picks emerging is the best-case scenario.

As for how they performed, frankly, the starting line was bad in the first half. It started with a sack, multiple QB pressures, and two bad snaps by Leverett, and then snowballed into eight (!) first-half penalties: false start, Okorafor lining up in the backfield at the snap three times, Onwenu committing the same penalty once, and three holds. To make matters worse, starting LG Sidy Sow (ankle) left the game due to injury.