The Patriots kick off their first game of the year at home on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m., where they will take on the Las Vegas Raiders. The team, which went 4-13 last season, has vastly improved, and with new Head Coach Mike Vrabel at the helm with a pair of experienced coordinators, the Patriots have little reason to feel apprehensive to start 2025.
Going into this matchup against the Raiders, there are some key things to note. For one, the Raiders’ offense is likely to look brand new under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Kelly pioneered the high-octane and high-tempo offenses seen during his time with the Oregon Ducks and the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2010s. After a National Championship-winning season as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State, he and Pete Carroll will look to use their experience to their advantage.
Brock Bowers was the focal point of the offense last season, with an incredible 112 catches. While he’ll remain the top pass-catching threat, he’s no longer the only thing teams have to worry about when playing the black and silver. The Raiders brought in veteran Geno Smith as their new starting QB, and selected Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty at No. 5 overall to lead their backfield. Former Patriot Jakobi Meyers requested a trade, and we will see if anything materializes. Former No. 4 overall selection Amari Cooper recently reunited with his former team. Second and fourth round picks Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton also feature at receiver.
Defensively, the Raiders are much weaker. No one doubts that Maxx Crosby is among the best edge rushers in the league, and Malcom Koonce is a sound running mate despite missing 2024 with an ACL tear. Though the edge rushers are the hallmark, the rest of the defense looks iffy. Eric Stokes and Darnay Holmes are two of the team’s starting cornerbacks, and former Patriot Elandon Roberts wears the green dot. Another former Patriot, Adam Butler, starts as defensive tackle. The rest of the defense features a pair of veteran names that, if it were 2020, would have made an elite unit: Jamal Adams and Devin White.
The Raiders might have vastly improved compared to last season, but they still have plenty of holes. The Patriots’ defensive line and former Raider Robert Spillane should have plenty of opportunities for TFLs, as the team seems so heavily centered around the run. With the release of Jabrill Peppers, the team will likely rely on preseason star Alex Austin to cover Bowers when he comes out of the slot, leaving starters Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis to patrol the outside for Meyers and Cooper. Stifling the run and keeping Bowers quiet will be the defensive keys to the game.
Offensively, the upgrades the Patriots made to their offensive tackles will be huge. Will Campbell and Morgan Moses will help tremendously in fending off the pair Crosby and Koonce, hopefully giving Maye much more time than last season. While it would be an immediate impact, expect TreVeyon Henderson to have plenty of opportunities in this game given his experience in pass protection, which will be huge against these rushers, and his speed that offers mismatches against slower backers. Slot cornerback Holmes had a 49.5 PFF coverage grade last season, so Pop Douglas should be able to work him on the inside. The Raiders don’t have anyone who can match up with Stefon Diggs.
The line is set at –3 in the Patriots’ favor, and I’d expect them to have little issue covering if they can keep Bowers and the run game quiet, and if the tackles do their job. Expect a nice way for the Patriots to open the season, a double-digit win for New England, 27-13.