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Patriots Favored in Preseason Opener Against Commanders
7 Aug
Summary
- Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has a .500 preseason record
- Commanders head coach Dan Quinn's teams struggle in preseason
- Both teams have competent backup QBs in Mariota and Dobbs

On Friday, August 11th, 2025, the New England Patriots will host the Washington Commanders in their preseason opener. The Patriots are set as the favorites for this matchup, which is one of three NFL preseason games taking place that night.
While it's the first preseason game, meaning starters likely won't see much playing time, there are some interesting trends to watch. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has a 7-7 record in preseason games during his coaching career, suggesting his team could be primed for a strong start. In contrast, Commanders coach Dan Quinn has struggled in the preseason, with his teams winning just 7 of 24 games and often failing to cover the spread.
Both teams have competent backup quarterbacks, with Marcus Mariota leading the Commanders and Josh Dobbs taking the reins for the Patriots. This could make for a fairly even matchup, regardless of how the coaches decide to split playing time.
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Ultimately, the Patriots are expected to come out on top at home, especially given Vrabel's more consistent preseason performance. Fans and bettors alike will be eager to see how these two teams fare in their first preseason action of the 2025 season.