The New England Patriots dropped their season opener to the Las Vegas Raiders 20-13 in a disappointing loss. The Patriots team as a whole looked very simlar to last year’s squad which isn’t a great sign consirding they spent $300+ millon in the off-season this year.
Throughout the game there was several pivotal moments that highlighted the Patriots’ inefficiently’s to be successful agasint the Raiders. Here are some of my key takeaways from their Week 1 defeat.
Momentum Lost in the Third Quarter
The Patriots started the game well and after the second quarter which seemed particularly promising, the Patriots slowly started to have trouble moving the ball. Even still, after scoring ten points in the first half, it seemed like the Patriots had all the momentum coming out of half-time. However, that was not the case and Drake Maye was having trouble substainging drives.
After halftime, the Patriots failed to score a single point. Offensive drives repeatedly stalled, and the team couldn’t respond to the Raiders’ scoring drive. It became punt after punt after punt and the game slowly slipped away from the Patriots.
Drake Maye’s Missed Opportunities
Drake Maye showed flashes of being a franchise quarterback, but his accuracy still lacked, and in certain critical moments, he struggled to find his poise. To open the game, Maye seemed too antsy and often scrambled out of a clean pocket. Speaking to the media earlier in the week, Maye talked about the importance of starting strong and admitted that has been a challenge for him. In the first half, a costly drop by DeMario Douglas on a second-down play stalled a promising drive that could have kept the Patriots in striking distance but instead ended in a missed field goal.
Later, Maye’s red-zone passing was inconsistent, with a few misfires preventing New England from converting scoring opportunities into points. He had a costly interception that the Raiders ended up taking advantage of, turning the turnover into a touchdown. These missed opportunities highlight the changes the Patriots need to make on offense, whether that’s specific playcalling, blocking, or the scheme—but something has to change.
Patriots defense off to a good (not great) start
Defensively, the Patriots showed flashes of potential. Last season, the defense was one of the weaker parts of the team and although the pass defense had trouble keeping Geno Smith in check, overall it was a good showing from Terrell Williams’s unit. Patriots got a great debut particularly from Carlton Davis III. He recorded two pass breakups, including one that directly led to an interception by Jaylinn Hawkins. These moments gave New England chances to swing momentum back in their favor.
Unfortunately, the offense was unable to capitalize on these turnovers. Points were not scored following the Patriots interception or other key defensive stops, highlighting a recurring issue: creating opportunities is one thing, but finishing drives and converting turnovers into points is another. For the Patriots to improve, they must link defensive success with offensive execution.
Running game had a lot of problems
The running game did the Patriots no favors today, especially in rainy conditions like those faced against the Raiders. However, the Patriots’ ground attack struggled throughout the game. TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson split carries but failed to consistently gain yardage. Stevenson averaged just 2.1 yards per carry on seven attempts, while Henderson had 5.4 yards on five attempts.
The offensive line’s struggles compounded the issue, as there were few open lanes for either back to exploit. Without a reliable rushing attack, the Patriots were forced to rely more heavily on passing, putting additional pressure on Drake Maye and the passing game. Establishing the run will be critical moving forward if the Patriots hope to control game tempo and reduce turnovers.
Special Teams Letdown
The Patriots would’ve just needed a touchdown late in the game if rookie Andy Borregales connected on a 40-yard field goal, however he missed wide right. In addition, Bryce Baringer’s 21-yard punt out of bounds late in the fourth quarter was costly, as it prevented New England from flipping field position in a critical moment.
In a tight game, every yard matters. The Patriots’ inability to pin the Raiders deeper in their territory forced the defense to defend a shorter field, increasing the challenge of stopping Las Vegas’ offense. Improving special teams execution will be essential in close games throughout the season.
Looking Ahead
The Patriots will now travel to Miami, where they will face off against their AFC Divisional rival, the Miami Dolphins, next week. The Dolphins are coming off a 33-8 loss against the Colts in Week 1. Nevertheless, the Patriots are 0-8 against the Dolphins, and it will be a tough game regardless.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
