The New England Patriots, under new head coach Jerod Mayo, concluded their preseason campaign Sunday night with a disappointing 20-10 loss to the Washington Commanders on the road. Despite the defeat, there were some positives to take away from the game, particularly with rookie quarterback Drake Maye showcasing his skills in limited playing time during the first half, throwing for 126 yards and a touchdown.
However, not everything was sunshine and rainbows for the Patriots. The offensive line struggled mightily throughout the contest, raising concerns about the team’s quarterback situation as they prepare for the regular season. The unit drew 10 penalties for a whopping 157 yards, further highlighting their struggles.
The poor performance of the offensive line was so glaring that referee Shawn Hochuli took notice and didn’t hold back in his criticism of Chukwuma Okorafor, who racked up three penalties in the first half. “Illegal formation, once again, left tackle No. 77 was lined up in the backfield,” Hochuli bluntly remarked about the penalty that nullified a long touchdown by the Patriots’ offense.
The call by the referee was met with a collective groan from Patriots fans, as the team’s struggles on the field were magnified by the officiating crew. The footage of the penalty and Hochuli’s remarks only added insult to injury for New England, leaving many wondering how they will address their issues before the regular season kicks off.
In the end, the Patriots will need to regroup and address their shortcomings before their season opener, as the performance against the Commanders exposed some significant areas of concern for the team. Only time will tell if they can iron out these issues and find success as they embark on a new era under coach Jerod Mayo.