The Raiders were unable to generate offense against the Patriots, with Kirk Cousins ineffective and the running game sputtering. New England’s Drake Maye had open receivers and ample time to throw, exploiting Las Vegas’ struggles at the line of scrimmage and in coverage. The Patriots marched up and down the field at will in the blowout loss.
The lone bright spot was the NFL debut of No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, who entered late as Cousins’ backup. On special teams, Deven Thompkins provided a spark in the return game after being called up from the practice squad, AJ Cole delivered a strong punting performance, and Matt Gay missed his first field goal of the season and attempted an onside drop kick that did not travel the required 10 yards.
Despite the special teams effort, the Raiders were dominated on both sides of the ball, turning the ball over, committing penalties, and playing sloppily— a stark contrast to their earlier-season consistency. Klint Kubiak’s team now faces a quick turnaround with upcoming games against the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams at Allegiant Stadium.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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