PostGame Thread OFFICIAL POSTGAME THREAD: 2025 Preseason Game 1: Patriots Blow Out Commanders 48-18

[PatsFanInVa]

I see a lot of relief that we're not committing the dumb penalties or many at all, and folks are putting that together with the new Vrabes era... and I mean, I love feeling good about the coaching difference. And naturally it feels good to see that there's no immediate "this draft sucked" reaction, which was a standard reaction for many years. And even this group couldn't complain about getting a "slow start" in this game. I'm actually a little giddy... honestly, I don't see why we go through the formalities. Let's buy em some rings.

Wait no, got ahead of myself. I will love seeing 15 total yards penalties, and I'll love Rham and new guy becoming Corey Dillon and Kevin Faulk. I love Drake looking more and more like the real thing (But after the first year Mac Jones head fake, I'll take my time on declaring him a first ballot HOFer.)

It looks/feels like we've been in coaching/culture hell, reinforced by bad personnel calls, for years, and all we need is to identify a scapegoat (now gone) and replace him with a trusted guy I have good feelings about... seems super easy, barely an inconvenience... not to mention really familiar.

I guess I'm still loving all these narratives but keeping myself in check. Every day we see one more card.

 

[Uptown]

 

[JohnJH]

There are starting OT's with 33" arms, including the Rams' Slater who may be the best tackle in the league (also Simmons from Ohio State who the Chiefs just drafted). Campbell has been measured as having 33" arms. This is so overblown on this board that it's beyond ridiculous. The play in question has nothing to do with arm length, wtf.

Agreed. And, Slater and Campbell have the same arm length and wingspan. Campbell is 2 inches taller and 5 lbs heavier than Slater. Slater was not expected to be the caliber of LT that he's become. Folks need to chill and give Campbell some time, and stop getting their short and curly's in a bunch.

 

[mayoclinic]

Two rookies seem poised to protect Drake Maye's blindside

The Patriots could have rookie left guard Jared Wilson and rookie left tackle Will Campbell starting in Week 1, which is rare.

www.espn.com

Campbell may or may not turn into a HOF LT. But as of preseason game 1, he and Jared Wilson look like quality starting caliber NFL linemen of some sort, whether at T, G, or C. That's a huge step up, and they should only get better.

 

[Clonamery]

Two rookies seem poised to protect Drake Maye's blindside

The Patriots could have rookie left guard Jared Wilson and rookie left tackle Will Campbell starting in Week 1, which is rare.

www.espn.com

Campbell may or may not turn into a HOF LT. But as of preseason game 1, he and Jared Wilson look like quality starting caliber NFL linemen of some sort, whether at T, G, or C. That's a huge step up, and they should only get better.

Yup, they are both guys that take to coaching.

 

[The Gr8est]

To me it looks like Westover is in the lead right now. They even lined him up at FB in short yardage last night.

Isn’t Westover someone the Pats can cut and add back after the roster shakes out?

No one is claiming him.

Remember if we want to IR someone and bring them back in season they need to make the roster first.

Same could apply to Dobbs and the other QB.

 

[The Gr8est]

Bryant should be considered our #3 OT as of now. He primarily played RT in the game.

Lowe, Jacobs and Wallace compete for the 4th OT spot.

#3 OT with starting potential, in the 6th round.

The last draft looks better and better.

 

[n1997y]

Isn’t Westover someone the Pats can cut and add back after the roster shakes out?

No one is claiming him.

Remember if we want to IR someone and bring them back in season they need to make the roster first.

Same could apply to Dobbs and the other QB.

Can designate a couple of preseason IR players to return under current rules.

 

[The Gr8est]

Maye didn't show me much last night. He is a good scrambler. He made a bad fumble. Not blaming everything on receivers.

Maybe the game plan called for Maye to intentionally play conservatively.

They are trying to break bad habits and develop new and better ones, without letting muscle memory take over.

We know Maye can air it out with the best of them, but do we want him doing that at this point?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Two rookies seem poised to protect Drake Maye's blindside

The Patriots could have rookie left guard Jared Wilson and rookie left tackle Will Campbell starting in Week 1, which is rare.

www.espn.com

Campbell may or may not turn into a HOF LT. But as of preseason game 1, he and Jared Wilson look like quality starting caliber NFL linemen of some sort, whether at T, G, or C. That's a huge step up, and they shpuld only get better.

Agree. Possibly Bryant will be serviceable at RT? If we want to save $19M by letting Onwenu walk in 2026 we still need a couple more OLmen.

 

[The Gr8est]

JJ was my 2nd QB I wanted for this team with Drake 1st. Ultimately I think we made the right choice

I was on board with a trade down and targeting JJ if we got a huge offer to trade.

We didn’t get that huge offer, and judging by how the rest of our draft turned out we would have reason to fear Wolf and company would have wasted the picks.

 

[lancerman]

I liked some of what I saw. The team was more disciplined. The running backs and defense seem much betetr.

However I really wish I saw more out of Maye and the WR's still don't give me faith in the passing game.

 

[Huckleberry1]

???

So, you agree that Polk was viewed as a 3rd down talent last year.

And, so, after he had an opportunity under adequate coaching, he should be cut?
======
We ALL agree that we could have done better with our pick, but that shouldn't cause us to cut an asset that perhaps has devalued from being worth a 3rd last year to one that might be valued as a 5th or 6th now with some potential.
======

He’s not one of the best receivers on this team, let alone one of the best football players. They should put together the best football team going forward, and not hang onto players simply because of where they were drafted.

The best receivers on this team are:

Stefon Diggs

Pop Douglas

Kyle Williams

Kayshon Boutte

Efton Chism

Mack Hollins

Then Baker and Polk, but special teams put the last 2 in a bind, which is why they tried Baker on special teams the other night. Polk will be released or have an injury settlement. They may try to get him on the practice squad, but he will most likely reject that and look for work elsewhere.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Maybe the game plan called for Maye to intentionally play conservatively.

They are trying to break bad habits and develop new and better ones, without letting muscle memory take over.

We know Maye can air it out with the best of them, but do we want him doing that at this point?

My concern was not whether Maye played conservatively or not, but his speed of play. Brady played fast, I am looking how fast Maye plays. In this first preseason game Maye was not playing fast. Maye is still young and it takes time for the game to slow down. Hopefully Maye will play faster as the season rolls out.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I liked some of what I saw. The team was more disciplined. The running backs and defense seem much betetr.

However I really wish I saw more out of Maye and the WR's still don't give me faith in the passing game.

Agree. The quick hit playing fast passing game was not on display. I guess we will have to be patient.

 

[n1997y]

He’s not one of the best receivers on this team, let alone one of the best football players. They should put together the best football team going forward, and not hang onto players simply because of where they were drafted.
The best receivers on this team are:
[non controversial list eluded]

Then Baker and Polk, but special teams put the last 2 in a bind, which is why they tried Baker on special teams the other night. Polk will be released or have an injury settlement. They may try to get him on the practice squad, but he will most likely reject that and look for work elsewhere.

You got lazy at the bottom of the list. We are way past the point where we should no longer be lumping Baker and Polk together just because they were drafted the same year. They’re distinctly different players. Plus Baker has been practicing with STs all camp, it seems part of his workload this season not just an experiment in the game Friday. And you ignored the other WRs on the roster: Bourne, Jiles, and Webb.

Because it matters for PS, and for sake of completeness here’s how I’d rank the rest of the WR roster:
Javon Baker
Kendrick Bourne
John Jiles
Ja’Lynn Polk
Jeremiah Webb

Note that this differs from the unofficial depth chart on the team website by putting Jiles ahead of Polk. That’s based on performances in the game Friday. For PS I’d keep Baker, Jiles, and Webb. I think Bourne has value and will find a home somewhere else. If the team wants another WR on the PS I’d be looking on the waiver wire.

New England Patriots Unofficial Depth Chart

 

[Zuma]

PFF…

 

[signbabybrady]

Isn’t Westover someone the Pats can cut and add back after the roster shakes out?

No one is claiming him.

Remember if we want to IR someone and bring them back in season they need to make the roster first.

Same could apply to Dobbs and the other QB.

Very possible.

But I would contend that the TE3 is used a lot more than WR5 or 6. Especially if they double dip and do some FB.

Do you want to risk that out of fear of losing Polk or Chism? Again very possible but I tend to weigh game day reps more than future potential. Can be a tough choice when it's a binky like Chism or even just a 2nd rounder we're not ready to give up on but players with actual roles can't just be overlooked.

Also could still be Bell over Westover but I'm leaning Westover. But I suppose you could risk one hoping to get at least 1 to practice squad.

These types of choices are definitely very fluid/nuanced.

 

[Triumph]

 

[p8ryts]

Maybe the game plan called for Maye to intentionally play conservatively.

They are trying to break bad habits and develop new and better ones, without letting muscle memory take over.

We know Maye can air it out with the best of them, but do we want him doing that at this point?

We want him to use his head.