Commanders' Unlikely Heroes McSorley, York, Bryant Lead Preseason Win Over Patriots, 20-10

The Washington Commanders finally found the end zone. And they might have also found themselves a kicker.

After a sluggish start to their preseason finale against the New England Patriots Sunday night at Commanders Field, Washington awakened in the second half for a 20-10 victory.

While star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and most of the starters sat out the game, the unlikely heroes were fourth-string quarterback Trace McSorley, newly acquired kicker Cade York and veteran receiver Martavis Bryant.

York, traded for from the Cleveland Browns last Thursday, made two field goals and two extra points in the second half. Washington got fourth-quarter touchdowns from running back Michael Wiley and Bryant, attempting a comeback after last playing in the NFL in 2018.

Wiley scored on a diving touchdown run just inside the pylon early in the fourth quarter to give Washington a 13-10 lead.

McSorley, who clearly outplayed No. 3 quarterback Jeff Driskel, began the scoring drive with a 25-yard strike to tight end Cole Turner. He then threw a perfect bomb to Bryant, who drew a 45-yard pass interference penalty inside New England's 10. Wiley scored on the next play, snapping a streak of 23 consecutive drives without a touchdown for the Commanders this preseason. He also scored Washington's previous touchdown, early in the fourth quarter of the opener against the New York Jets Aug. 10.

Bryant caught a 4-yard touchdown to seal the win.

Driskel went 12 of 18 for only 73 yards and an interception in the first half; McSorley finished 12 of 21 for 125 and the one score.

The Commanders, who went 3-0 in the preseason in 2023, finished 1-2. Last year, of course, dramatic wins by two points (twice) and one point in August led to a 2-0 start in the regular season before the bottom dropped out and Washington lost its last eight games to finish 4-13 and get coach Ron Rivera fired and replaced by Dan Quinn.

Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in last April's NFL Draft, produced a sparkling preseason going 12 of 15 passing and rushing for a touchdown on his first series. But he and backup Marcus Mariota sat out Sunday.

"They kind of shut me down this week," Daniels joked during a sideline interview on NBC.

The Patriots took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye engineered an 11-play, 88-yard drive. He lofted a short pass in the flat to running back Kevin Harris, who shook the tackle of cornerback Noah Igbinoghene and scooted 18 yards for a touchdown.

Related: Without Jayden Daniels, Lethargic Commanders Trail Patriots, 7-0, at Halftime

Said Quinn at halftime, "I feel we are tight and over-trying."

Washington outscored New England, 20-3, in the second half.

The Commanders, who haven't had a winning record since 2016 and haven't won a playoff game since 2005, open the regular season Sept. 8 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.