The Washington Commanders (3-5) have had an interesting week. On Tuesday, Washington traded starting defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the NFL trade deadline. Losing two notable starters would lead one to believe the Commanders were punting on the remainder of this season. That’s not the case, as head coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Sam Howell believe this team is still capable of making a playoff push.
Next up for the Commanders are the New England Patriots (2-6). These arent the same Patriots Washington will remember from 2019. Yes, legendary coach Bill Belichick is still on the sidelines, but quarterback Tom Brady is long gone. This New England team is struggling while still trying to find an identity.
But Washington hasn’t beaten the Patriots since 2003 — when Steve Spurrier was head coach. And there have been some ugly losses over the years.
As the Commanders prepare for Week 9, here are five Patriots you should get to know ahead of Sunday.