Commanders upend Patriots with third-quarter rally

Sam Howell threw for 325 yards as the Washington Commanders beat the New England Patriots 20-17 on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.

Howell completed 29 of 45 passes with a touchdown and an interception for Washington (4-5), which won for just the second time in its past seven games.

The Commanders fell behind 17-10 with 10:14 remaining in the third quarter when New England's Chad Ryland made good on a 43-yard field goal.

But Washington answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Howell's 33-yard scoring strike to Jahan Dotson, and Joey Slye later provided what ended up being a game-winning field goal -- from 30 yards out -- with 1:49 left in the third.

The Patriots (2-7) had a chance to tie or take the lead when they got the ball back with 2:07 left in the game, but after working to the Commanders 41, Mac Jones threw a pick.

Jones threw for 220 yards with a touchdown and the interception on 24-for-44 passing. Rhamondre Stevenson carried the ball nine times for 87 yards and a score, and Demario Douglas had five receptions for 55 yards.

New England was often let down by its defense, which surrendered nine third-down conversions on 17 Washington attempts.

After seeing his team fall into a 10-0 hole, Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai shifted momentum by punching the ball out of Brian Robinson Jr.'s hands early in the second quarter.

New England recovered the fumble and, three plays later, Jones found Hunter Henry for a 14-yard touchdown.

Stevenson leveled things at 10-all later in the quarter, darting 64 yards to the end zone with 6:06 to go. It was the longest rush of Stevenson's career.

Washington drove to the Patriots 5 just before halftime, but Kyle Dugger picked off Howell in the end zone, preventing the Commanders from taking a lead into the break.

Slye kicked a 37-yard field goal to give the Commanders a 3-0 lead with 3:14 left in the first quarter. Robinson made it 10-0 with a 9-yard rushing TD just 2:55 into the second.

Robinson led the Commanders' rushing attack with 63 yards and a TD on 18 carries. Terry McLaurin hauled in five catches for 73 yards.