Patriots Better But Still Not Good Enough

FOXBOROUGH – That was one hell of a second quarter for the Patriots.

The scoreboard says that they outscored the Las Vegas Raiders, 3-0. But if you include the final 1:02 of the first quarter to the end of the first half, the Patriots served notice that they really are vastly improved under brand new head coach Mike Vrabel. They completely stifled the Raider offense and Drake Maye looked comfortable in running the Patriot offense.

In the other three quarters, the Raiders showed that the Patriots still have a bit more work to do to get back to the NFL’s elite society.

The Raiders have a new head coach also. You may have heard of Pete Carroll, the Patriot boss from 1997-99. In New England, he is remembered as a soft and gentle head coach who gifted the Patriots Super Bowl XLIX. Carroll is also a defensive genius (mostly) and was able to devise a game plan which stifled Maye and his offense in all the other quarters and left Gillette Stadium with a 20-13 Opening Day win on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Patriot Nation was briefly tantalized but again left Gillette wondering if the Patriots would ever be good again, never mind great.

Quick question: What do Chuck Fairbanks, Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick have in common?

They all took the Patriots to the playoffs but lost their first game as Patriot head coach. Ron Meyer, Raymond Berry and Carroll won their Patriot coaching debuts. Mike Holovak tied his first game. But the three who lost are 1-2-3 on the list of best head coaches in Patriot history.

So, Patriot Nation, please stay away from all bridges and tall buildings. For now.

The game started ominously as the Raiders took the opening kickoff and covered 71 yards in six plays. Tre Tucker beat the entire Patriot secondary and took a perfect toss from Geno Smith on a right post pattern for 26 yards and a far-too-easy score. The entire drive was far too easy for the Raiders, as Smith hit on three of four passes, including the touchdown and a 23-yard toss to Brock Bowers on the first play of the game.

Maye, meanwhile, went three and out to begin the game.

The game changed on the next Raider possession, when Jaylinn Hawkins picked Smith on a deep left sideline route. Smith tried to hit Bowers but badly misfired and Hawkins caught the ball, then tiptoed the sideline and the interception was good.

Sep 7, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA;New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas (3) reacts after making a touchdown catch against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

(PHOTO: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)

This is where Patriot Nation began to get really excited, albeit a bit too prematurely. Maye then led the Patriots on a 12-play, 77-yard drive to tie the game. He hit Hunter Henry on a wheel route for 27 yards to get into Raider territory. Two plays later, he hit Kayshon Boutte for 24 yards over the middle. Predictably, Boutte got hit real hard and had to come out of the game temporarily. With 1:02 left in the first quarter, Maye hit Pop Douglas on a wonderful square out pattern in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown.

The second quarter was all Patriots, despite them scoring only three points. They dominated time of possession, 11:33 to 3:27. It would have been a 6-0 quarter except rookie kicker Andy Borregales missed a 40-yard field goal wide right but did later nail a 35-yarder. Daniel Carlson missed a 58-yarder as time expired in the first half, the Patriots ahead 10-7.

The Patriots got the ball to begin the third quarter, but the entire game changed on Maye’s worst throw of the day.

On the sixth play of the third quarter, the Patriots had the ball at their 48-yard line, second down and 7. Maye dropped back and was under tremendous pressure from Maxx Crosby. Maye hurried a throw off his back foot into the right seam and Isaiah Pola-Mao (sounds like an ex-Pittsburgh DB) made the pick. In just five plays, the Raiders marched 71 yards into the end zone, with Boise State rookie RB Ashton Jeanty running it in from three yards and running through two Patriot tackles on the way.

It was 14-10 Raiders, and they would never again relinquish the lead. Carlson would boot two more field goals, Borregales would also boot one, and that was that.

For the rest of the second half, it was the defense stifling Maye and his offense with a more aggressive approach, both in the front seven and in the secondary. The front seven blitzed more and the secondary played more man coverage.

On defense, the Patriots seemed to tire after all the energy they expended in the first half. Smith looked more comfortable, and only the fact that they are still the Raiders prevented more touchdowns, thanks to untimely penalties and some other assorted mistakes.

Give the Patriot defense credit for shutting down the Raider rushing attack. Jeanty had only 38 yards on 19 carries in his NFL debut, but he looks strong and slippery and seems like he will be a factor in the years ahead. But Smith was 24 of 34 passing for 362 yards, one TD and one pick for a 102.8 passer rating. Old friend Jakobi Meyers led the Raiders with 8 catches, while Bowers led the team with 103 receiving yards.

Maye was 30 of 46 for 287 yards, one TD and one pick and had a rating of 80.6. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson had only five carries but averaged over five yards a carry. Boutte, Henderson and new Patriot Stefon Diggs each had six catches; Boutte led the team with 103 yards.

Next week the Patriots head to Miami, a place they usually like to go to in December and not September. The heat and humidity will do more to the Patriots than Tua Tagovailoa will do, but this is a different Dolphin team than past years. Coach Mike McDaniel is on the hot seat, so the game may be interesting at times but the Patriots will be really up against it.

Vrabel will have better days coming. Just have faith, and be happy that today was not an ignominious blowout. It was competitive the entire day, and for now, just take it and move on.

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About Bob George

Covering Boston Sports since 1997. Native of Worcester, Mass. Attended UMass and Univ of Michigan. Lives in California. Just recently retired after 40 years of public school teaching. Podcasts on YouTube at @thepic4139

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