New England Patriots

Patriots roll over Redskins, 33-7

The Patriots stay undefeated in 2019.

Tom Brady attempts a second-half pass against the Redskins Sunday.

By Christopher Price

11 minutes to read

Another dominant performance from the Patriots defense paved the way for a 33-7 win over the Redskins Sunday in Landover, Md.

Sure, after a slow start, Tom Brady looked sharp over the last two quarters, finishing 28-for-42 for 348 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Sony Michel added a pair of second-half rushing touchdowns, and Julian Edelman added eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.

But it was the defense which again rose to the occasion. The D, which has allowed just 34 points through the first five games (including Sunday) has been a sizable part of New England’s first 5-0 astart since 2015, and the Patriots’ current 10-game win streak (dating back to last season).

Washington’s only touchdown of the day came in the first quarter on a fluky 65-yard run play from Steven Sims. The 7-0 Washington lead marked just the first time all year New England had trailed.

But that was the lone high point for the Redskins’ offense, as the Patriots’ defense clamped down and set the New England offense up with great field position time and again. The Patriots put up 33 points the rest of the way, as Brady found Edelman, Brandon Bolden and Ryan Izzo for touchdowns, and Michel added a pair of rushing touchdowns in the win.

Colt McCoy was 18-for-27 for 119 yards and an interception, and the Redskins were just 1-for-11 on third down and had just 220 net yards in the loss.

3:56 p.m.: Stidham in the game for the Patriots. If this is it for Brady today, he finishes 28-for-42 for 348 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

3:54 p.m.: The Patriots are clicking now — that Brady to Ryan Izzo touchdown pass (and an extra point that was banked in off an upright) makes it 33-7 with 9:14 left in regulation. Brady is now 28-for-42 for 348 yards with three touchdowns and one INT.

https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1180934254634643458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1180934254634643458&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bostonglobe.com%2Fsports%2F2019%2F10%2F06%2Fcountdown-kickoff-patriots-redskins%2F7HoLDHXFbsL5Vad85H7wcN%2Fstory.html

3:42 p.m.: This is going to be a weird game to look back on — the Patriots are going to break 30, and the Redskins probably won’t break double digits, but there will be lots of lamenting how the offense looked in the early going. The biggest takeaway on that point? This is pretty much the definition of complementary football — when the offense is down, the defense can pick you up. And the truth of the matter is this defense is capable of papering over a lot of offensive deficiencies.

3:40 p.m.: Pats hold a 26-7 lead after three, and appear to be safely in command of this one. You’d like to see the offense finish strong after an occasionally ragged first half. but at this point, I honestly don’t think it’ll matter, at least with the way this New England defense is playing.

3:30 p.m.: This is just the worst possible situation for the Washington offense now — the Pats know the Redskins have to take some shots to score (relatively) quickly in hopes of getting back into it. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a few sacks from New England between now and the end of this one. (And for what it’s worth, I still think Washington is going to have a problem even reaching the 14-point plateau.)

3:21 p.m.: Another excellent series there for the New England offense, as the ground game has come to life here in the second half. Sony Michel, who looked like he was having issues in the first half — not sure if it was him, the matchups up front, or something else — but has now gotten started with 11 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown on the day. On that last drive, there was a great pitch and catch with Brady and Edelman.

https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1180926423462232064

It’s 26-7 with 4:35 to go in the third quarter.

3:11 p.m.: New England will get the ball back with a 19-7 lead and 7:40 left in the third quarter. Good start to the second half for the Patriots’ offense with a nice mix of run and pass — let’s see what they have in store this series. If New England can punch it in here, the way this defense is playing, that should be more than enough of a second-half cushion for the Pats.

3:03 p.m.: Pats take the opening kick and move down the field nicely — a solid, tone-setting drive that included quality rushing yardage on first and second down. A Brady floater to Brandon Bolden put the capper on the series, and the extra point makes it 19-7 with 10:57 left in the third quarter. Let’s see how the defense answers here, but that could very well be enough for New England.

2:58 p.m.:

2:43 p.m.: That’s the half. Pats hold a 12-7 lead. A few quick thoughts…

Brady’s stats are good (19-31 for 206 yards with one TD and one INT), but the offense is sluggish. Nothing on the ground, and the Redskins look like they know it. The New England offense is losing the battle on first down a lot of the the time, and the Pats are in unwinnable second- and third-down situations. New England is 2-for-9 on third down. Against a quality opponent, that won’t get it done.

The defense, other than the one early breakdown, has been absolute nails. The Pats have forced some turnovers (including that Jason McCourty pick), and havce effectively locked down the Washington offense. The Redskins could always add another fluky touchdown, but I think they’re still going to struggle to break the 14-point barrier.

2:40 p.m.: Pats offense is now 2-for-9 on third down. and settle for a 23-yard field goal. It’s 12-7 with 30 seconds left in the first half. Right now, the New England defense is worlds ahead of the offense — the Redskins got 65 yards on one play, and just 125 yards total.

2:30 p.m.: Best possible scenario here for the Pats? They put up a score here at the end of the first, and then, they get the kickoff at the start of the second. A wraparound series of scores would start to create some separation. I mean, I don’t think Washington is capable of cracking the 14-point barrier, but you want to put any hope out of their minds at the start of the second half.

2:27 p.m.: All these offensive line penalties, I have to imagine Trent Williams is sitting back and chuckling softly to himself. Patriots hold a 9-7 lead with just over two minutes left in the first half.

2:23 p.m.: A lot of football left to play, but so far, this is the sort of game the Redskins wanted to play, I have to imagine — a slow, slog of a contest. Make the Patriots try and win a rockfight. So far, they’ve succeeded. Pats relying on their defense here to carry the day.

2:22 p.m.: Pats can’t handle prosperity, as Brady gives the ball back to Washington with that interception. HUGE missed opportunity there for the New England offense, as the Redskins get the ball back inside their own five.

2:18 p.m.: Chance for a big momentum swing there, as the Pats will take over deep in Washington territory after that fumble. There’s 6:09 to go in the half, and New England is in the Redskins’ red zone.

2:11 p.m.: Patriots are up 9-7 with 8:38 to go in the first half.

•Brady is 15-21 for 168 yards and a touchdown

•Gordon has 3 catches for 36 yards

•Ground game has struggled — 5 carries, 8 yards

•Patriots have 3 sacks

2:04 p.m.: The Patriots get three there with a 37-yard field goal, and take the 9-7 lead with 10:35 to play in the first half. This doesn’t set up to be a big running game for New England,. which has struggled to move the ball on the ground. The Patriots will turn to their defense again here, and get hope for a little separation before the end of the first half. One thing worth noting — the stats are pretty good for Brady so far: 15-for-21 for 168 yards and one touchdown.

1:59 p.m: Edelman is favoring … something. Ribs, chest, whatever it is. He’s not 100 percent right. That much is clear after that drop.

1:47 p.m.: So that’s it for the first quarter — the Redskins hold a 7-6 lead, and have started to believe they have a chance in this one because they’ve been able to (mostly) hang with the Patriots. Brady is 12-for-16 for 154 yards and one touchdown, but New England has really struggled on the ground — three carries for one yard.

1:40 p.m.: Lots of really good, physical catches this season from Josh Gordon, like this one from earlier today.

https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1180900371063083008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1180900371063083008&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bostonglobe.com%2Fsports%2F2019%2F10%2F06%2Fcountdown-kickoff-patriots-redskins%2F7HoLDHXFbsL5Vad85H7wcN%2Fstory.html

And the one with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter. Appreciated his speed last year, but this season, it feels like he’s won the battle for a lot of 50-50 balls. An underrated aspect of his game it feels like he’s flashing more of this year.

Lots of really good, physical catches this season from Josh Gordon, including that one with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter. Appreciated his speed last year, but this season, it feels like he’s won the battle for a lot of 50-50 balls. An underrated aspect of his game it feels like he’s flashing more of this year.

1:35 p.m.: That OPI is the third of the year on Ryan Izzo.

1:33 p.m.: Excellent tone-setting pressure there by Shelton at the start of the drive puts the Redskins in an immediate hole, and the work on third doown forces another punt. New England has the ball again with 6:11 to go in the first.

1:28 p.m.: Good everything on that last drive for the Patriots, right up to the missed extra point. Patriots came out with some uptempo work, putting some stress on the Redskins’ defense which struggled to catch up. Is interesting that New England has used Michel in the passing game twice today (he had no catches coming into this one). But a missed extra point from Nugent will cause questions to continue to swirl around the kicking game. But it’s 7-6 with 7:09 left in the first quarter in Washington.

1:22 p.m.: Dorsett is questionable to return, the team has announced.

1:19 p.m.: Excellently schemed play there for Washington that goes for 65 yards and a touchdown. First time the Patriots have trailed all season long.

1:16 p.m.: Worth watching. Redskins got the Patriots there with a well-executed coverage sack on third down to force the punt. No score with just over 10 minutes left in the first quarter.

1:13 p.m.: Patriots defensive starters: Butler, Shelton, Guy, Collins, Van Noy, Hightower, Roberts, Gilmore, J. McCourty, D. McCourty, Harmon.

Offensive starters: Brady, Michel, Johnson, Edelman, Gordon, LaCosse, Cannon, Mason, Karras, Thuney, Newhouse.

1:07 p.m.: Great start for the New England defense, one capped off by the Chase Winovich sack there on third down. No explosion at all from Adrian Peterson? It’s going to be a long day for Washington. Opponents are now 7-for-53 on third down against the Patriots defense this season.

1:02 p.m: The Redskins win the toss and will get the ball. Time for the foosball!

12:27 p.m.:

 All right — prediction time. My first thought was this sort of had the possibility of being a trap game, but the truth of the matter is I don’t think the Redskins have any shot in this one. There’s nothing remarkable about this Washington team on either side of the ball. It has no difference-makers on offense, no defensive disruptors, no special teams’ stars. Nothing. I’m going to be interested to see how the Patriots use their ground game in this one, but when it comes to the big picture, as long as nothign really surprising happens (bad penalties, shocking injuries, etc.), the Pats will have a relatively easy time in this one, with at least one defensive touchdown on the way to a 31-9 win.

12:10 p.m.: More on the Nugent front from our guy Jim.

Noon: Multiple folks saying this. Going to be interesting on how this is going to sound on television.

11:52 a.m.: The Patriots would love to see Nugent get a few kicks under his belt and get off to a good start with New England. Sounds like the occasional wind gust is making things in the 40-plus yard range a little dicey.

11:45 a.m.: Said this to someone on Friday, but it bears repeating: For the Patriots, games against Washington haven’t traditionally offered a lot on paper, but they’re almost always eventful. In 2003, the Patriots lost to the Redskins in Week 4, then didn’t lose again for more than a full year. In 2007, New England curbstomped Washington, 52-7, the game that was the peak of Belichick’s Shock & Awe campaign against the rest of the league. A preseason contest in 2009 saw Albert Haynesworth fall on Tom Brady’s shoulder, creating an injury that dogged the quarterback the whole year. And 2011 saw the famous Brady-Bill O’Brien sideline shouting match, as well as one of the most spectacular receptions of Rob Gronkowski’s career. Going to be fun to see what this year brings. Maybe the last game of Jay Gruden ‘s career as head coach of the Redskins?

11:30 a.m.: Cody Kessler, Pat Chung. Rex Burkhead, Damien Harris, Nate Ebner, Korey Cunningham and Byron Cowart are the inactives for the Patriots today. Have to day I’m a little stunned that Harris is a no-go for New England — with no Burkhead, you’d think the Pats could use the depth at running back. Not a great sign for the rookie, at least in this case. Julian Edelman and Dont’a Hightower are active, a good sign for the Pats. No huge surprises otherwise, however.

Your pregame reading list:

Benjamin Watson is reportedly out for Sunday’s game against the Redskins

What we learned from Vanity Fair’s Robert Kraft expose 

What Bill Belichick said about the upcoming game against the Redskins

Who will kick off for Patriots? Jake Bailey says he’ll gladly do it

Bill Belichick reveals why the Patriots signed Mike Nugent

Colt McCoy to start for Redskins against Patriots Sunday

What NFL experts are predicting for Sunday’s Patriots-Redskins game