Washington opens the pre-season against the New England Patriots and is a 2-point favourite to win on the NFL pre-season odds. The total is 34.5 points.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Both these clubs finished 7-9 in the 2020 regular season. It was considered a huge success for Washington, which won the NFC East Division to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015. It was a massive disappointment for the Patriots, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and finished with a losing record for the first time since 2000 – Tom Brady’s rookie season when he never saw the field.

New England has won seven of the past 10 pre-season meetings vs. Washington (6-4 against the spread), with the most recent one in 2018. The most recent regular season matchup was in 2019 in Maryland and Brady led the Patriots to a 33-7 blowout. Of course, Brady is now with the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Bucs.

Bill Belichick is 46-36 in the pre-season with the Patriots and this is Ron Rivera’s first pre-season with Washington as there wasn’t one in 2020. Rivera’s teams were 20-16 in exhibition games when he was with Carolina.

Washington Football Team

WFT coach Ron Rivera is a bit of an old-school guy and has made it clear that his starters will play in the pre-season opener but didn’t say how much. Veteran journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick is the new starting QB in Washington but almost surely is just a one-year stopgap. The backup job is up for grabs between Kyle Allen, who began last year as the starter, and Taylor Heinicke, who started the playoff loss to the Bucs. Safety Landon Collins says he plans to play; Collins tore his Achilles in late October 2020 and was given a 9-12 month timetable for his recovery. Washington did have as many as seven guys on the COVID list as recently as a week ago, including receiver and big free agent addition Curtis Samuel, who won’t play here. Rivera has been vocal about his guys getting vaccinated because he’s at extra risk as a cancer survivor.

New England Patriots

Coach Bill Belichick has said numerous times that veteran Cam Newton opened camp as the team’s No. 1 quarterback but also that rookie No. 15 overall pick Mac Jones out of Alabama could still win the job. That will be what all Patriots fans will be watching here. According to most reports, Jones has been closing the gap in camp. Belichick hasn’t said how long any starters might play here, but one big free agent addition, former Chargers tight end Hunter Henry, will not play due to a shoulder injury. One of the stars of camp apparently has been wideout N’Keal Harry, a Toronto native. Entering camp, the team was trying to trade the former first-round disappointment.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Football Team vs. Patriots?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Football Team Team Leaders

WAS

Touchdowns	Antonio Gibson 10
Rushing	Antonio Gibson 1037
Passing	Taylor Heinicke 3419
Receiving	Terry McLaurin 77
Sacks	Jonathan Allen 9
Interceptions	Bobby McCain 4

NE

Touchdowns	Damien Harris 15
Rushing	Damien Harris 929
Passing	Mac Jones 3801
Receiving	Jakobi Meyers 83
Sacks	Matt Judon 12.5
Interceptions	J.C. Jackson 8

WAS

Touchdowns
Rushing
Passing	Did not qualify
Receiving
Sacks
Interceptions

NE

Touchdowns	Kendrick Bourne 2
Rushing	Damien Harris 30
Passing	Mac Jones 232
Receiving	Kendrick Bourne 7
Sacks	Nelson Agholor 0
Interceptions	Nelson Agholor 0

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Patriots Team Leaders

WAS

Touchdowns	Antonio Gibson 10
Rushing	Antonio Gibson 1037
Passing	Taylor Heinicke 3419
Receiving	Terry McLaurin 77
Sacks	Jonathan Allen 9
Interceptions	Bobby McCain 4

NE

Touchdowns	Damien Harris 15
Rushing	Damien Harris 929
Passing	Mac Jones 3801
Receiving	Jakobi Meyers 83
Sacks	Matt Judon 12.5
Interceptions	J.C. Jackson 8

WAS

Touchdowns
Rushing
Passing	Did not qualify
Receiving
Sacks
Interceptions

NE

Touchdowns	Kendrick Bourne 2
Rushing	Damien Harris 30
Passing	Mac Jones 232
Receiving	Kendrick Bourne 7
Sacks	Nelson Agholor 0
Interceptions	Nelson Agholor 0

Weather

temp	84
condition	sunny
wind	Northwest 7mph

Injuries

Washington

Jordan Kunaszyk (LB)

Out indefinitely Illness - 08 / 01 / 22

Sammis Reyes (TE)

Out Sun Hamstring - 06 / 01 / 22

Sam Cosmi (OL)

Prob Sun Hip - 05 / 01 / 22

Ricky Seals-Jones (TE)

I-R Concussion - 02 / 01 / 22

Ereck Flowers (T)

Out indefinitely Illness - 31 / 12 / 21

Saahdiq Charles (T)

Out Sun Knee - 30 / 12 / 21

Taylor Heinicke (QB)

Prob Sun Knee - 30 / 12 / 21

James Smith-Williams (DE)

Prob Sun Illness - 30 / 12 / 21

Tress Way (P)

Out indefinitely Illness - 30 / 12 / 21

Sam Cosmi (OL)

Out indefinitely Illness - 30 / 12 / 21

New England

Ja'Whaun Bentley (LB)

day-to-day Arm - 15 / 01 / 22

Jamie Collins Sr. (LB)

Ques Sat Ankle - 12 / 01 / 22

David Andrews (C)

Ques Sat Shoulder - 11 / 01 / 22

Cody Davis (DB)

Ques Sat Wrist - 11 / 01 / 22

Nick Folk (K)

Ques Sat Knee - 11 / 01 / 22

Lawrence Guy (DL)

Ques Sat Shoulder - 11 / 01 / 22

Damien Harris (RB)

Prob Sat Hamstring - 11 / 01 / 22

Brandon King (LB)

Ques Sat Toe - 11 / 01 / 22

Jakobi Meyers (WR)

Prob Sat Thigh - 11 / 01 / 22

Jalen Mills (CB)

Out indefinitely Illness - 11 / 01 / 22

Injuries

Washington

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jordan Kunaszyk (LB)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 08 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Kunaszyk will miss an undetermined length of time after winding up on the COVID-19 list.
Sammis Reyes (TE)	Out Sun	Hamstring - 06 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Reyes is nursing a hamstring injury, and he will not take on the Giants on Sunday.
Sam Cosmi (OL)	Prob Sun	Hip - 05 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Cosmi has a hip injury, but it is projected that he will be available for Sunday's battle with the Giants.
Ricky Seals-Jones (TE)	I-R	Concussion - 02 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Seals-Jones has hit the injured reserve list with a concussion.
Ereck Flowers (T)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 31 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Flowers has been assigned to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it has yet to be established when he can return.
Saahdiq Charles (T)	Out Sun	Knee - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Charles exited the last game with a knee injury, and he will not be available versus the Giants on Sunday.
Taylor Heinicke (QB)	Prob Sun	Knee - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Heinicke is expected to lace up for Sunday's contest against the Eagles despite a knee injury.
James Smith-Williams (DE)	Prob Sun	Illness - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Smith-Williams set out the last contest due to an illness, but it is likely that he will face the Giants on Sunday.
Tress Way (P)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Way will miss an undetermined length of time after winding up on the COVID-19 list.
Sam Cosmi (OL)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Cosmi has been designated to the IR/COVID-19 list, and a return date is unknown.

New England

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Ja'Whaun Bentley (LB)	day-to-day	Arm - 15 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Bentley exited Saturday's game versus the Bills with an arm injury, and it is unknown if he will return.
Jamie Collins Sr. (LB)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 12 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Collins Sr. has an ankle ailment, and it is up in the air if he will take the field for the AFC wild-card game versus the Bills.
David Andrews (C)	Ques Sat	Shoulder - 11 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Andrews has a shoulder injury, and it is unclear if he will line up against the Bills in the AFC wild-card game.
Cody Davis (DB)	Ques Sat	Wrist - 11 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Davis is nursing a knee injury, and it is up in the air if he will play in the AFC wild-card game against the Bills.
Nick Folk (K)	Ques Sat	Knee - 11 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Folk is managing a left knee injury, leaving his status against the Bills in the AFC wild-card game clouded.
Lawrence Guy (DL)	Ques Sat	Shoulder - 11 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Guy is limited by a shoulder injury, and it is undetermined if he will suit up for the AFC wild-card game versus the Bills.
Damien Harris (RB)	Prob Sat	Hamstring - 11 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Harris is managing a hamstring injury, but he is projected to take on the Bills in the AFC wild-card game.
Brandon King (LB)	Ques Sat	Toe - 11 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
King is hindered by a toe issue, and it has yet to be announced if he will take on the Bills in the AFC wild-card game.
Jakobi Meyers (WR)	Prob Sat	Thigh - 11 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Meyers is hampered by a thigh injury, but it is expected that he will participate in the AFC wild-card game versus the Bills.
Jalen Mills (CB)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 11 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Mills has been added to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it has yet to be decided when he will return to action.