Flavin Media

By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan

The New England Patriots delivered an unenergized and inconsistent performance on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The offense generated little momentum, relying on an attack strategy that felt too gradual. The defense was exposed early, ultimately surrendering too many big plays. The special teams were spotty as well, committing subtle but costly mistakes that impacted the overall performance. This was far from what the team envisioned during a preparation week focused on performing in crucial late-game situations.

Offense: C+

Drake Maye on his interception:

“I thought I had Diggs over on the right… I missed it high. I think I got to step into it more. I may have got hit up front. But, that’s a part of playing quarterback in this league. You got to step into the throw and take hits and be accurate.”… pic.twitter.com/SxxYRREbUv

— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) September 7, 2025

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels may need to adjust throughout the season to better suit what has become a more modern offensive unit. Quarterback Drake Maye showed spotty accuracy throughout the game and held onto the ball longer than he should have, but the offense as a whole never really threatened downfield, whether on completed plays or uncompleted looks. Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was the clearest target, but it didn’t matter because everything stayed in front of the defense. Running back TreVeyon Henderson could have been set up better in space with designed plays, but credit goes to a Las Vegas defense that executed strong tackling and coverage fundamentals.

Defense: C+

The Raiders' pass game had a whopping 9 explosives vs the #Patriots defense

Brock Bowers was schemed open for 3 big plays, WRs beat off corners with deep stops/double moves, Jakobi Meyers slipped multiple tackles, and Tre Tucker burned NE for getting too cute on a blitz pic.twitter.com/5pZldQJ3Hn

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) September 8, 2025

The defensive unit will be in trouble if they allow as many big plays as they did on Sunday against an opponent that didn’t even have tight end Brock Bowers deep into the game. Linebacker Harold Landry set the tone as the trenches generated encouraging pressure for the most part, albeit against an offensive line that isn’t exactly a powerhouse. Cornerback Carlton Davis and the defensive coverage were a work in progress all game, and despite flashes of solid play, allowing a lackluster receiver group and a backup tight end to get behind them was the true vulnerability. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins, despite contributing an interception and a sack, was still part of the big-play issue for the unit, giving receivers too much leeway.

Special Teams: C+

Patriots with the first missed field goal of the season for any team: Rookie Andy Borregales goes wide right from 40 yards #Patriots #Raiders pic.twitter.com/JXBGrEbuPE

— John Breech (@johnbreech) September 7, 2025

The special teams unit needs to improve execution in situational moments. Kicker Andy Borregales exemplified the struggles of the unit on Sunday. Missing a 40-yard field goal in the first half is not something the offense or the team should be seeing, especially after continuing to look like a work in progress. The three penalties from the kicking and punting unit also hurt the team’s ability to string plays together and capitalize on opportunities.

Ultimately, the team’s inability to generate bigger plays for themselves and prevent big plays against them gave both players and fans little reason to stay consistently engaged. The offense needs to continue executing shorter routes effectively to eventually threaten the deeper parts of the field. The defense must keep the opposing offense in front of them while pressuring the quarterback and containing the running back. The special teams need to capitalize on shorter opportunities in the kicking game and step up when the team needs momentum. Doing so will set them up for an easier outing in Florida against the Miami Dolphins.