Washington Commanders vs New England Patriots: Easy Guide to Player Stats

The Week 9 game on November 5, 2023 between the Washington Commanders and the New England Patriots was a close and tense match. The Commanders won 20 to 17 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, and many players on both teams had important roles in this result.

In this guide, we will look at:

The final score and basic game story
Team stats and what they tell us
Key Commanders player stats
Key Patriots player stats
Big moments that changed the game

All numbers in this article come from trusted football sites like ESPN, Pro Football Reference, team websites, and major news outlets.

Game Overview: Score and Context

Final score: Washington Commanders 20 to 17 New England Patriots
Date: November 5, 2023
Place: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Competition: 2023 NFL regular season, Week 9

Washington started strong and took a 10 to 0 lead. The Patriots fought back and even took the lead, but the Commanders controlled the second half. A late interception by rookie defensive back Jartavius Martin ended New Englands last drive and secured the win for Washington.

Team Stats at a Glance

Team stats help us see which side controlled the game. Here are some important numbers:

Total yards
- Commanders: 432
- Patriots: 327
Passing yards
- Commanders: 308
- Patriots: 220
Rushing yards
- Commanders: 124
- Patriots: 107
First downs
- Commanders: 23
- Patriots: 18
Third down conversions
- Commanders: 9 of 17
- Patriots: 3 of 12
Time of possession
- Commanders: 37:10
- Patriots: 22:50

These numbers show that Washington:

Held the ball longer
Moved the chains more often
Gained more yards both in the air and on the ground

Even though the score was close, the Commanders were more efficient on offense and better at staying on the field.

Commanders Offense: Howell Leads the Way

Sam Howells Big Day

Quarterback Sam Howell was the star for Washingtons offense. His numbers:

Passes completed and attempted: 29 of 45
Passing yards: 325
Passing touchdowns: 1
Interceptions: 1
Sacks taken: 3 for 17 yards
Rushing: 5 carries for 27 yards

Howell spread the ball around and kept calm after mistakes.
He threw one interception in the red zone at the end of the first half, but he came back in the third quarter and led a strong touchdown drive, ending with a 33 yard pass to Jahan Dotson.

Brian Robinson Jr: Tough and Busy on the Ground

Running back Brian Robinson Jr gave balance to the offense. His stats:

Rushing: 18 carries, 63 yards, 1 rushing touchdown
Receiving: 1 catch for 4 yards

Robinson scored the first touchdown of the game on a 9 yard run around the right side in the second quarter.

However, he also lost a fumble in the same quarter, which helped New England get its first touchdown.

This shows why his performance was important and mixed. He was central to the offense, but one mistake gave the Patriots life.

Wide Receivers: McLaurin and Dotson Shine

Washingtons receivers had a strong day:

Terry McLaurin
- 5 catches on 7 targets
- 73 yards

McLaurin made several first down catches and helped set up the go ahead field goal with two big receptions in the third quarter.

Jahan Dotson
- 4 catches on 8 targets
- 69 yards
- 1 touchdown 33 yards

Dotsons touchdown was a deep pass into the end zone against single coverage. Howell trusted his receiver in cover 0 no safety help, and Dotson rewarded that trust with a strong catch.

Other players like Antonio Gibson also helped with short catches and runs, but McLaurin and Dotson were the main targets in the passing game.

Patriots Offense: Big Plays but Not Enough

Mac Jones: Up and Down Performance

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones had an average day with one key mistake at the end.

Passes completed and attempted: 24 of 44
Passing yards: 220
Touchdowns: 1
Interceptions: 1

His numbers kept the Patriots close. He threw a 14 yard touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Henry in the second quarter and helped lead a late drive in the fourth quarter. But with the ball at the Washington 41 yard line and a chance to tie or win, his pass for JuJu Smith Schuster was tipped and intercepted by Jartavius Martin.

That final play is the one many fans remember from this game.

Rhamondre Stevenson: Explosive on the Ground

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson was New Englands most dangerous player.

Rushing: 9 carries, 87 yards, 1 touchdown
Receiving: 4 catches, 42 yards

The biggest moment came on a 64 yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He burst through the line and outran the defense to the end zone.

This performance gave him an impressive 9.7 yards per carry, the best rushing average of his career at that time.

Receivers: Henry and JuJu as Main Targets

Two pass catchers stood out.

Hunter Henry
- 4 catches on 7 targets
- 39 yards
- 1 touchdown

Henrys touchdown grab was New Englands first score and came after the fumble by Brian Robinson Jr.

JuJu Smith Schuster
- 6 catches on 7 targets
- 51 yards

JuJu was a steady short range target all game, but the final pass of the day bounced off his hands and turned into the game ending interception. After the game, he took public blame for that play.

Defense and Key Moments

Commanders Defense: Big When It Counted

Washingtons defense did not dominate every snap, but they made the big plays.

Held the Patriots to 17 points
Allowed only 3 of 12 third down conversions
Forced one interception at the end of the game

The most famous play was the interception by rookie defensive back Jartavius Martin with under a minute left. New England was driving and had reached the Commanders 40 yard line. Jones threw toward JuJu Smith Schuster, but the ball was tipped and Martin caught it, ending the comeback chance.

This was a clutch moment and one reason Washington fans remember this game well.

Patriots Defense: Turnovers and Pressure

The Patriots defense also had bright spots.

Forced a fumble from Brian Robinson Jr
Sacked Howell three times and pressured him often

However, they struggled to get off the field on third down and could not slow the Commanders passing game enough in the second half. Washingtons control of time of possession, over 37 minutes with the ball, kept the Patriots defense on the field and tired.

What the Stats Tell Us About the Game

Looking at all the numbers together, we can see a clear story.

Washington moved the ball better.
They gained more total yards, more first downs, and stayed ahead on the clock.
Quarterback play favored the Commanders.
Both quarterbacks had one touchdown and one interception, but Howell had more yards and kept key drives alive with his arm and legs.
Big plays kept New England close.
The Patriots stayed in the game mostly because of Stevensons long touchdown run and good field position after turnovers.
One play decided the end.
The final interception was the difference between a possible game tying drive and a Commanders win.

For fans who like to study games, this matchup is a good example of how total stats and key moments both matter. Washington won the stats and also made the last big play.

Conclusion

The match between the Washington Commanders and the New England Patriots was close, exciting, and full of important moments. Washington won 20 to 17 because they were stronger on key downs, held the ball longer, and made the final big defensive play. Both teams showed good effort, but the Commanders were a little better at moving the ball and staying calm in important situations.

Sam Howell led the Washington offense with a strong passing day, while Rhamondre Stevenson kept the Patriots in the game with one of the biggest runs of the match. The stats show that Washington played a more complete game on both offense and defense. In the end, one tipped pass and one late interception decided the final result.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

1. Who was the best player for the Commanders in this game
Sam Howell was the key player. He passed for 325 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

2. How many yards did Brian Robinson Jr run for
Brian Robinson Jr had 18 carries for 63 yards and one rushing touchdown plus one catch for four yards.

3. Who scored the Commanders touchdowns
Brian Robinson Jr scored on a 9 yard run.
Jahan Dotson caught a 33 yard touchdown pass from Sam Howell.

4. What were Mac Joness stats in this game
Mac Jones went 24 of 44 for 220 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

5. How did Rhamondre Stevenson play
Stevenson rushed 9 times for 87 yards and one touchdown and caught 4 passes for 42 yards.

6. Who caught the most passes for Washington
Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson were the main targets. McLaurin had 5 catches for 73 yards and Dotson had 4 catches for 69 yards and a touchdown.

7. Who was the top receiver for the Patriots
Hunter Henry and JuJu Smith Schuster led the way. Henry had 4 catches for 39 yards and a touchdown and JuJu had 6 catches for 51 yards.

8. What was the key defensive play of the game
The key play was Jartavius Martins interception of Mac Jones on the final Patriots drive. That pick sealed the 20 to 17 win for Washington.

9. Which team had better third down numbers
The Commanders were better. They converted 9 of 17 third downs while the Patriots converted only 3 of 12.

10. Why did Washington win even though the score was so close
Washington won because they controlled the ball longer, gained more total yards, converted more third downs, and made the final big defensive play. All these small advantages added up to a narrow but deserved 20 to 17 victory.

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