Raiders Get Off to a Strong Start, Defeat New England

In an exciting start to the 2025 NFL season, the Las Vegas Raiders defeated the New England Patriots 20-13 on September 7 at Gillette Stadium. Pete Carroll's debut as head coach of the Raiders was marked by a solid performance from Geno Smith, who threw for 362 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 26-yard pass to Tre Tucker in the first quarter. Rookie Ashton Jeanty shined with his first NFL touchdown, a three-yard run in the third quarter, sealing the victory. For the Patriots, Drake Maye battled but was limited to 150 yards and a touchdown, with a three-yard pass to DeMario Douglas. New England's defense, led by Harold Landry III with 1.5 sacks, could not contain the Raiders' offense, which scored key points with two field goals by Daniel Carlson (51 and 40 yards). A fourth-quarter injury to Brock Bowers concerned the Raiders, although early reports suggest it's not serious. The Raiders earned their first win at Gillette Stadium, leaving the Patriots with a lot to adjust at the start of the Mike Vrabel era.

Solid and Effective Raiders

Quarterback Aidan O'Connell had an efficient performance, moving the chains with ease and finding his best partner of the night in wide receiver Davante Adams, who totaled more than 90 passing yards and a touchdown. The ground game, led by Zamir White, helped control the clock and keep the Patriots' offense off the field.

The Las Vegas defense was also key, with Maxx Crosby leading the pressure on the opposing quarterback and racking up two sacks that destabilized New England's offense in crucial moments.

Patriots Lacking Consistency

The Patriots, in head coach Jerod Mayo's second season, showed improvements in discipline and order, but lacked offensive consistency. Their quarterback, Drake Maye, threw for just over 200 yards and a touchdown, but also suffered an interception that proved decisive in the game's closing game.

Despite the good work of kicker Chad Ryland, who connected on two field goals, New England failed to capitalize on their offensive drives in the red zone.

Up Next

Raiders: They will look to maintain their strong start against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2.

Patriots: They will try to bounce back at home against the Miami Dolphins in a key divisional challenge.

With this victory, the Raiders confirm that they will be a team to watch in the AFC West, while the Patriots still need to work to ensure their new generation can compete on equal terms with the conference's powerhouses.