FOXBORO — The Patriots solidified themselves as not just a team with a bad record but a legitimately bad team Sunday when they couldn’t beat the lowly Commanders at home in Gillette Stadium.

The Commanders, who dealt away two of their best defenders in defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat before last week’s trade deadline in a sign that they did not plan on being competitive in 2023, mounted a 20-17 lead with nearly 17 minutes left in the game and gave the Patriots four drives to tie or gain a lead. The Patriots combined for just three first downs and 62 yards on 15 plays on the first three of those four offensive series, all of which led to punts.

Quarterback Mac Jones tossed an interception through the hands of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster with 38 seconds left in the game, ending the Patriots’ final comeback bid.

The Patriots are now 2-7 on the season after Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the 4-5 Commanders.

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The Commanders got out to an early lead when the Patriots turned the ball over on downs after an 11-play drive that picked up just 45 yards on their first offensive series. Commanders quarterback Sam Howell used the short field to his advantage on a nine-play, 42-yard drive that ended with a field goal.

The Patriots went three-and-out on their next two drives. An 11-play, 80-yard Commanders touchdown drive was sandwiched between the two punts. Running back Brian Robinson capped things off with a 9-yard touchdown run.

Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai kickstarted a comeback when he forced a fumble by Robinson early in the second quarter. Tavai punched out the football, which was recovered by defensive tackle Davon Godchaux.

It took just three plays for Jones to march the offense 25 yards down the field. Jones hit tight end Hunter Henry in the end zone on a 14-yard touchdown pass, one of his best of the entire season.

The Patriots’ defense forced another punt before Jones and the offense made quick work of the Commanders’ defense. Jones hit JuJu Smith-Schuster on the wide receiver’s longest reception of the season, a 20-yarder. Then running back Rhamondre Stevenson ran through a massive hole opened up by veteran center David Andrews and rookie right guard Sidy Sow for a long 64-yard touchdown run. It was the longest rushing play of the season by the Patriots. Their previous long run was a 20-yarder from rookie wide receiver Demario Douglas.

The Commanders should have scored to end the half, but Howell chucked the ball to Patriots safety Kyle Dugger in the end zone for an interception. That came after the Commanders had converted first downs on third-and-10 and third-and-23 on the drive. The latter, picked up on a 24-yard scramble by Howell, who’s not exactly a speed demon, was one of the worst plays of the season for the Patriots that saw safeties Adrian Phillips and Jalen Mills whiff badly on tackles.

The Patriots elected to kneel on the ball to end the half. They benefitted from a very questionable roughing the passer penalty on the first drive of the second half when Jones appeared to be sacked by rookie defensive end KJ Henry. Officials flagged the hit, giving the Patriots a new set of downs in field goal range. Rookie Chad Ryland hit a 43-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 17-10 lead.

The Commanders tied the game on their next drive, finishing off a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Howell to wide receiver Jahan Dotson. After a Patriots punt, the Commanders knocked through a field goal to give them a 20-17 lead.

Jones went 24-of-44 for 220 yards with a touchdown and interception in another middling performance. The Patriots appeared to bench cornerbacks J.C. Jackson and Jack Jones to begin the game. Shaun Wade started opposite cornerback Jonathan Jones before taking on a reserve role.

BEST

RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Vintage Stevenson showed up on Sunday as the starting running back ripped off a 64-yard touchdown run. He carried the ball nine times for 87 yards with the touchdown.

LB Jahlani Tavai: A bright spot all season, the versatile defender punched out the ball to force a fumble by Commanders running back Brian Robinson early in the second quarter.

LB Ja’Whaun Bentley: Bentley finished the day with two sacks and led the team with 12 tackles.

WORST

S Adrian Phillips: The veteran safety, who’s seen his snaps diminish this season, was involved in perhaps the Patriots’ worst defensive play of the season when Howell picked up a first down scrambling on third-and-23. Phillips badly whiffed on the tackle, allowing Howell get away and scamper past the first-down marker.

S Jalen Mills: Mills, who’s also seen his playing time decrease, also missed a tackle on Howell’s first-down scramble. It was an ugly play.

Special teams: For a team that’s invested so much in special teams, it was an ugly day at the office Sunday. They allowed a 37-yard return to start the game, Douglas went backward for 2 yards on a punt return, punter Bryce Baringer had a touchback from the Patriots’ 47-yard line, special-teamer Brenden Schooler pushed the Patriots’ offense back with a facemask on a fourth-down punt return, linebacker Mack Wilson gave the Commanders a fresh set of downs by going offside on punt-return duties late in the fourth quarter, and Schooler was flagged again for a hold on a punt return before the two-minute warning.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: The veteran free-agent addition’s late drop led to Jones’ interception. He caught six passes on seven targets for 51 yards.