The New England Patriots open their 2025 preseason slate under the Friday night lights at Gillette Stadium, welcoming a red-hot Washington Commanders squad that’s fresh off a Cinderella run to last year's NFC title game.
After enduring a brutal 4–13 finish in 2024, the Patriots hit the reset button. They parted ways with Bill Belichick and handed the reins to Mike Vrabel, while Josh McDaniels returns to Foxborough to try and revive an offense that never got out of first gear last season. The hope? Get back in the fight for the AFC East and start looking like a postseason contender again.
Over in D.C., expectations are sky-high after Dan Quinn’s debut season saw the Commanders surge to a 12–5 record and an unexpected run to the NFC Championship Game. But now comes the real test: was last season lightning in a bottle or the start of something sustainable?
READ MORE: Fubo Review: Pricing, plans, subscriptions, free trials and more
New England Patriots vs Washington Commanders: Date and kick-off time
Patriots will take on Commanders in a highly anticipated NFL game on Friday, August 8, 2025 at 7:30 pm ET or 4:30 pm PT, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
| Date | Friday, August 8, 2025 |
| Kick-off Time | 7:30 pm ET or 4:30 pm PT |
| Venue | Gillette Stadium |
| Location | Foxborough, Massachusetts |
How to watch New England Patriots vs Washington Commanders on TV & stream live online
TV channel: Patriots Preseason Net, WUSA 9
Streaming service: Fubo
Watching NFL action this season just got easier, and more versatile, with a mix of traditional TV broadcasts and exclusive streaming options. When it comes to convenience and coverage, Fubo stands out as one of the most user-friendly ways to catch nearly every down and touchdown.
With access to nearly 200 channels, Fubo lets fans tune in to all the key networks that carry NFL games, including CBS, NBC for Sunday Night Football, Fox for Sunday NFC clashes, ABC, ESPN for Monday Night Football, and the NFL Network. That means you’re covered for almost every regular season and playoff matchup. Want even more action? You can tack on NFL RedZone for an extra $11/month and stay locked into every scoring drive from around the league on Sundays.
While Amazon Prime Video remains the exclusive home for Thursday Night Football in 2025, fans in local team markets can still stream those primetime matchups through Fubo, making it a flexible all-in-one option.
And it's not just football — Fubo is loaded with sports content. From MLB, NBA, and NHL games to MLS and international soccer, there's something for every fan year-round. Right now, Fubo's sweetening the deal for new subscribers with $20 off your first month of the Pro or Elite plan, and $5 off the Latino package.
Streaming the game with a VPN
Unable to watch this game due to broadcast restrictions? A VPN could be the answer to your problems.
When it comes to streaming live sports, NordVPN is our pick for the best VPN service in 2025. You can even try NordVPN risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
New England Patriots vs Washington Commanders team news
New England Patriots team news
Up in Foxborough, Drake Maye is locked in as the Patriots’ Week 1 starter, but don’t expect to see him suit up on Friday. New England’s offensive line was a revolving door last season, so they addressed it aggressively—drafting left tackle Will Campbell and signing veteran tackle Morgan Moses and center Garrett Bradbury to keep Maye upright. With Josh McDaniels back at the controls as OC, the new-look offense will take some time to settle in.
Maye will have a shiny new weapon once the regular season rolls around in Stefon Diggs, who brings big-play potential to a receiving corps that desperately needed it. However, Diggs is still rehabbing an ACL injury and isn’t expected to feature during the preseason. Behind him, there’s a wide-open battle for depth at receiver. Kyle Williams and Pop Douglas are expected to round out the starting trio, but Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Efton Chism III, and Javon Baker are all in the mix for the final WR spots. Defensively, the Patriots also have a competition heating up at weak-side linebacker, where Jahlani Tavai, Christian Elliss, and Jack Gibbens are vying to start alongside middle linebacker Robert Spillane.
Washington Commanders team news
Jayden Daniels turned heads in his rookie year as Washington's signal-caller, and the Commanders have wasted no time loading up around their young quarterback. This offseason, the team made some bold moves—bringing in wideout Deebo Samuel and elite pass protector Laremy Tunsil via trade—to give Daniels more firepower and better protection up front. They also beefed up the secondary by trading for veteran corner Marshon Lattimore and drafting Trey Amos in the second round.
While Samuel and Lattimore likely won't log major minutes in Friday’s preseason opener, they’ll be worked into the mix soon enough as the coaching staff evaluates their impact. Meanwhile, Washington's two most pressing training camp battles are brewing in the trenches. At right tackle, rookie Josh Conerly Jr. will try to fend off Andrew Wylie for the starting role. Conerly enters as the favorite, but Wylie brings experience and grit. Over at right guard, it's Nick Allegretti vs. Nate Herbig, at least until Sam Cosmi recovers from last season's torn ACL.