- The New England Patriots are favored by a touchdown in their preseason opener against the Washington Commanders at home.
- Both Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota have already been ruled out by Commanders head coach Dan Quinn
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The Washington Commanders travel to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots in Week 1 of the NFL preseason and find themselves as considerable underdogs in the opener.
Commanders vs Patriots Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commanders | +6.5 (EVEN) | +255 | O 36.0 (-115) |
| Patriots | -6.5 (-120) | -310 | U 36.0 (-105) |
Legal sports betting sites favor the Patriots by a touchdown, a big line for any game, let alone preseason. However, here is why bettors should have confidence in New England to cover the spread.
Quarterback Matchup
Everyone knows about the number two and three picks from last year’s draft, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, but Daniels has already been ruled out by head coach Dan Quinn and though Maye is expected to play, it is unlikely he will see more than a drive or two.
So that shifts the attention to the backup quarterbacks, which may play a big role in why the Patriots are favored by such a healthy amount.
The Commanders have Marcus Mariota as their primary backup to Jayden Daniels, but Mariota has already been ruled out of Friday night’s game with a calf injury, leaving the quarterbacking duties to journeyman Josh Johnson and second year QB Sam Hartman.
As for the Patriots, after Maye exits the game, they will likely have Josh Dobbs running the show for the majority of the time, who started games for the Cardinals and Vikings as recently as two seasons ago.
Behind him, they have rookie Ben Woolridge, who could factor in towards the end of the game, but it is likely to be the Dobbs show for most of the game.
Competition For Roster Spots
One of the biggest advantages the Patriots have in preseason games is their depth at skill positions, creating competition for certain spots, specifically wide receiver.
Veterans Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and DeMario Douglas are all virtual locks to make the roster, but after that, there are quite a few names fighting for a spot.
Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker were all with the team last season, but could find themselves out of a job with just a few receiver spots left open, especially now with rookies Kyle Williams and Efton Chism in the mix.
Running back and tight end are positions with plenty of competition as well, with Ohio State rookies TreVeyon Henderson and Gee Scott Jr. looking to make an immediate impact.
On the other side, Washington’s skill position groups are less in flux. Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, Brian Robinson Jr., and Austin Ekeler are the core of the offense and they do not have as much of a log jam at the receiver and running back positions.
Rookies Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jaylin Lane have been making waves in training camp and second year receiver Luke McCaffrey looks to take a step forward, but there is not as much of a sense of urgency as the skill positions in New England.
Simply put, every game and every rep simply means more for the Patriots this preseason, so expect them to put their best foot forward in this one.
Bet on New England to cover the six and a half point spread at NFL betting sites.
