Patriots Pregame Thread 2025 Raiders @ Patriots - Early thoughts

[DoubleDeluxe]

Don’t forget the rest of the DL. Didn’t the Pats pick up some guy from the Eagles that might have a thing or two to say for himself?

well that would be Milton....Williams.

 

[n1997y]

If LV crowds the line and brings the safeties up we will take deeper shots.

Agree. Might work the short game for a bit then go for a surprise deep strike. I think we’ve got the horses to make both of those work.

Or I was thinking if LV crowds the short field and looks vulnerable to the long ball maybe we don’t show much of our short game and work downfield a lot to set up a change in strategy for future games.

That looks like short quick passes all day to me

Only to set up the deep threat. If LV is defending the quick short game why play what they’re expecting?

 

[n1997y]

well that would be Milton....Williams.

Yep, I think Uncle Miltie may have himself a day. Does not seem like the LV OL will be up to handling everything we throw at them.

 

[Ring 6]

It will if Maye is inaccurate or giving up interceptions, which he tends to do early.

Maye had his highest completion % in the first quarter (73%) in fact he threw only 19 incomplete first quarter passes all season and he had only 2 1st quarter ints.
Seems you have a bad memory.

 

[n1997y]

Pats should win easily.

Games are won in the trenches. Pats OL > LV DL. Pats DL >> LV OL.

On offense Pats OL should be good enough to do whatever Josh asks them to do. I expect a lot of runs, probably a good quantity of screens and short passes, with the occasional long bomb thrown in. Probably will start out very vanilla and only get as fancy as need be. Don’t think LV will need much more than the basic playbook.

On defense I don’t think the LV OL will handle the Pats DL very well at all. Geno won’t have time to go deep, and coverage by the Pats will be good enough to make it difficult if he tries. So Raiders will be doing a lot of runs and short passes, and I think the Pats will feast on that all day.

I’m expecting the home crowd will be getting a treat to start the season. Would be nice to see the Pats D pitch a shutout but that’s probably a bit much to ask. Still, don’t expect it to be a nail biter.

 

[Zuma]

Agree. Might work the short game for a bit then go for a surprise deep strike. I think we’ve got the horses to make both of those work.

Or I was thinking if LV crowds the short field and looks vulnerable to the long ball maybe we don’t show much of our short game and work downfield a lot to set up a change in strategy for future games.

Only to set up the deep threat. If LV is defending the quick short game why play what they’re expecting?

I was referring to their defensive line including Safeties at the LOS ready to bring pressure. I’m not sure throwing deep is the best answer if half their team is blitzing against our all-star OL. Running at Crosby can be part of the answer.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Maye had his highest completion % in the first quarter (73%) in fact he threw only 19 incomplete first quarter passes all season and he had only 2 1st quarter ints.
Seems you have a bad memory.

I definitely have a bad memory, so it could be that. But my recollection was that was the knock on him coming out of college.

 

[n1997y]

I was referring to their defense including Safeties at the LOS ready to bring pressure. I’m not sure throwing deep is the best answer if half their team is blitzing against our all-star OL. Running at Crosby can be part of the answer.

Key to that is showing we can handle the blitz early. I’d like to see Maye hit Henderson on a quick crosser behind the blitz. He’d be off to the races, and I think we all know what horse to bet on in that matchup.

 

[Uptown]

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I was referring to their defense including Safeties at the LOS ready to bring pressure. I’m not sure throwing deep is the best answer if half their team is blitzing against our all-star OL. Running at Crosby can be part of the answer.

Yes, if they are blitzing that's different. I was talking about the D condensing to take away the quick short passes like they did when we had Mac. I liken "training wheel offense" to those quick underneath or short out"safe throws. And I believe Josh will not limit Drake to that if the D is playing that condensed close to the LOS coverage.

 

[jimnance]

"Y'ont some potted meat?""
" Ah lahk dem French frahhed taters..dem's goood"

 

[dliverey44]

I’ll feel more comfortable and confident if Gonzo is good to go, still think we can win without him but he’s our best player on the team.

I am interested to see how they cover Bowers and Thornton

 

[PatsfanTN]

Pats should win easily.

Games are won in the trenches. Pats OL > LV DL. Pats DL >> LV OL.

On offense Pats OL should be good enough to do whatever Josh asks them to do. I expect a lot of runs, probably a good quantity of screens and short passes, with the occasional long bomb thrown in. Probably will start out very vanilla and only get as fancy as need be. Don’t think LV will need much more than the basic playbook.

On defense I don’t think the LV OL will handle the Pats DL very well at all. Geno won’t have time to go deep, and coverage by the Pats will be good enough to make it difficult if he tries. So Raiders will be doing a lot of runs and short passes, and I think the Pats will feast on that all day.

I’m expecting the home crowd will be getting a treat to start the season. Would be nice to see the Pats D pitch a shutout but that’s probably a bit much to ask. Still, don’t expect it to be a nail biter.

Pats should win easily? Really?

 

[TheRainMaker]

Pats should win easily? Really?

Raiders are going to be for a rude awakening Sunday. The front of Barmore, Williams and Landry are going to cause problems. Chiaisson could also make some noise while the Raiders are focusing on the others. Spillane is going to be a pest in the middle of the field. On the other side, Pats only have to worry about Crosby. We also get to see our old message board punching bag in Elanden Roberts and Adam Butler.

Offensively, I think McDaniels is going to have something for the Raiders. Diggs will have a good game and clear out room for other players to get favorable matchups. Pats have speed with Diggs, Williams and Henderson. Henry and Hooper can do the dirty work in the middle of the field.

A blowout wouldn't surprise me.

 

[mgteich]

This is a big game to me in terms of how the season is going to play out.
The Patriots have 8 games against teams that lost 12 or more games last year:
Jets
Jets
Raiders
Giants
Saints
Browns
Panthers
Titans

The Raiders are the only one that potentially made real improvement with a veteran HC and QB.
The other 7 figure to suck pretty much as badly as last year.

I’m looking at sweeping these 8.
That leaves 6 games against averagish teams
Fins
Fins
Steelers
Bengals
Bucs
Falcons.

Splitting those brings it to 11 wins if we sweep the excrement eight.

With 3 tough openents in the Bills twice and Ravens.

Good gauge of where we may be headed.

I expect Maye to light up the Raiders btw.

This seems close
7 of 8 of the horrible (we'll slip on one of them.)
3 of 6 of the average teams
0 of the 3 really tough teams.
This gives us a very reasonable 10 wins with a chance at the playoffs.

 

[Dec54]

Raiders are going to be for a rude awakening Sunday. The front of Barmore, Williams and Landry are going to cause problems. Chiaisson could also make some noise while the Raiders are focusing on the others. Spillane is going to be a pest in the middle of the field. On the other side, Pats only have to worry about Crosby. We also get to see our old message board punching bag in Elanden Roberts and Adam Butler.

Offensively, I think McDaniels is going to have something for the Raiders. Diggs will have a good game and clear out room for other players to get favorable matchups. Pats have speed with Diggs, Williams and Henderson. Henry and Hooper can do the dirty work in the middle of the field.

A blowout wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Dec54]

Is that true, fired while out with his kids?

 

[n1997y]

Raiders are going to be for a rude awakening Sunday. The front of Barmore, Williams and Landry are going to cause problems. Chiaisson could also make some noise while the Raiders are focusing on the others. Spillane is going to be a pest in the middle of the field. On the other side, Pats only have to worry about Crosby. We also get to see our old message board punching bag in Elanden Roberts and Adam Butler.

Offensively, I think McDaniels is going to have something for the Raiders. Diggs will have a good game and clear out room for other players to get favorable matchups. Pats have speed with Diggs, Williams and Henderson. Henry and Hooper can do the dirty work in the middle of the field.

A blowout wouldn't surprise me.

You forgot Hollins, and Efton Chism III.

 

[n1997y]

Pats should win easily? Really?

Yes.

And I gave my reasons.

Disagree? Back it up. Give your reasons.

Where do the Raiders match up well? What are they going to do that the Pats won’t be able to stop? What will they do to shut down whatever the Pats try to do?

I mean, at least put some effort in your posts. Come on, man! It’s time for football! Show some enthusiasm!

 

[KCSVEN]

Most interesting first game of the season in forever.
We have not seen Diggs in a game.
We have not seen Barmore and Williams together in a game.
Gonzo likely out.

Geno Smith is a good QB that is turning 35 in October and throws too many picks. IF they can get pressure they will win easily, as Smith will throw some picks. If he has a clean pocket, he will pick them apart.
I have no idea how much pressure Pats can generate, last year they were worst in the league, but they have nobody from last year, outside of part time White, left in a pass rushing roll. Miller and Meredith are good pass blockers but the other 3 are only adequate. Key to the game is getting pressure on Smith.

Outside Bowers they don't scare me on offense. Curious how Jeanty looks, I was underwhelmed with his college tape, maybe my expectations were too high, we will find out soon.

Raiders defense might really stink this year. Ranked 26 last year and lost Spillane and Chaisson. Elandon Roberts and Adam Butler are possible starters. They have zero pass rush outside of Crosby. Chip him, help with RB or TE and Maye should cook.

Unless Smith has all day to throw Pats should win 28-14. Smith has all day to throw it'll be in the 31-28 range either way.