Instant analysis of the Patriots’ victory against the Raiders

As members of the Super Bowl XXXVI team returned to Gillette Stadium, so did the victory lineup.

The New England Patriots punted and ran through the Las Vegas Raiders for 536 total offensive yards and a 45-17 victory on Sunday.

Here’s a look back at the 1 p.m. ET kickoff as head coach Mike Vrabel’s team advances to 3-2.

A Rehearsal for AFC Offensive Player of the Week

The reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week put September’s turnover numbers even further behind.

Drake Maye completed 26 of 34 passes for 374 yards in Sunday’s Red Throwbacks. The 24-year-old Patriots quarterback had four touchdowns through the air and a fifth on the ground after setting a season rushing record last week.

Taking the field with a roster of ’12,’ New England’s first drive lasted five plays, 55 yards and a defensive pass interference penalty before making it 7-0 in the end zone. The second series brought two shotgun connections on fourth and third on the way to a 14-7 lead. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky wasn’t called upon until the Patriots’ third drive ended on the Raiders’ end. Despite that, a 26-yard run by starting tight end Hunter Henry helped ensure that didn’t happen again at halftime. And with one Patriots captain glaring at another on the next snap, an 11-yard touchdown made it a 21-7 advantage.

Maye completed 11 of 15 passes for 160 yards with two touchdowns and a passer rating of 147.2 per intermission at Gillette Stadium. He managed to finish with a passer rating of 150.9. A certain former UNLV and Washington State speedster was hit down the left sideline coming out of the break for a 34-yard score on second-and-19. The QB kept the pedal down, delivering a pinpoint pass to rookie tight end Eli Raridon on a 31-yard running wheel route before calling his own number to extend the lead to 35-10.

The knees were reduced once things were at 45-17. Averaging 8.1 yards per play, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ Patriots offense closed the game with 29 first downs, going 6 of 12 on third down, 2 of 2 on fourth down and 4 of 5 in the red zone.

Large reception room of four rolls in three touches

After Mack Hollins suffered a non-contact calf injury in last weekend’s 29-26 AFC East loss to the Buffalo Bills, the wide receiver room was left without its elder statesman. The 33-year-old was tops on the team in targets, receptions and receiving yards before being sent to injured reserve on the eve of the 1 p.m. ET kickoff.

But DeMario Douglas has not been forgotten. At least not by his quarterback. The 5-foot-8, 185-pound wideout was found in the end zone for his first touchdown of the fall on the Patriots’ first drive. And wide open behind a Raiders umbrella. He caught four passes for 65 yards and his second touchdown of the game.

It was a collective effort to get a four-person depth chart.

March signing Romeo Doubs caught 24 yards and then 27 yards of defensive pass interference on consecutive series against cornerback Eric Stokes. Efton Chism III has also been given the green light. A week after knocking down the game-winning TD with his right glove, the 2025 undrafted free agent from Eastern Washington continued to play above the edge to the tune of five catches for 57 yards as well as a free lateral for a third-and-11 conversion.

And then there was Kyle Williams, who had fun with his first sprint to the end zone since December of his rookie campaign, then broke up a 49-yard throw on a raindrop deep in the middle of the field. The No. 69 pick in last year’s NFL Draft entered the game with 44 receiving yards this season and finished with a team-leading 91.

Brown stays at right guard, but Campbell moves to the blind side

Nearly two years have passed since Ben Brown joined the Patriots’ 53-man roster on the Raiders’ practice squad. Receiving his second call-up at right guard after Greg Van Roten landed on injured reserve along with starter Mike Onwenu, the backup interior lineman was penalized for a false start and a catch on Sunday while 35-year-old right tackle Morgan Moses also drew two flags for the same infractions.

The musical chairs don’t stop there for the starting five.

Left tackle Will Campbell, who limped off the field in the second quarter after suffering a rolled right knee, was demoted midway through Sunday. Rookie pick No. 28, Caleb Lomu, moved from being an eligible tight end to the blindside roster next to left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and center Jared Wilson.

But a bag was planned for Las Vegas. Defensive linemen Jonah Laulu and Malcolm Koonce split. A “max effort guy” in five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro Maxx Crosby got his hands on a pair of quarterback hits.

Stevenson visits the end zone and totals 85 yards from scrimmage for a thin backfield

Rhamondre Stevenson had 13 carries for 64 yards rushing and a dive from the goal line for his second touchdown in a week. Although questionable after limping on the final drive at Orchard Park, the starting running back’s outing at Foxborough included game-changing gains of 12 and 20 yards on the ground. It also included 21 receiving yards out of the backfield.

TreVeyon Henderson rotated to move the chains, but an ankle injury left the Ohio State product going from questionable to out midway through Sunday. The backfield depth chart was rounded out by 53-man roster deadline trader Corey Kiner, who lost a fumble on his first transfer and returned to record 59 yards from scrimmage on seven touches.

While fullback Reggie Gilliam was moved to injured reserve due to ankle and knee issues, the Patriots committee has been tracking undrafted tight end Tanner Arkin on occasion.

At all four corners, Cousins ​​turns to Bowers as No. 1

The 172nd start of Kirk Cousins’ NFL career was on deck. The Raiders quarterback completed 19 of 28 passes for 243 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions before ending up on the sideline. This was against missing All-Pro secondary Christian Gonzalez due to a shoulder injury, fellow outside starter Carlton Davis III due to a neck injury, as well as rookies Karon Prunty and Channing Canada due to hamstring injuries.

With that CVS receipt printed, Marcus Jones and Charles Woods started Sunday in the absence of all four cornerbacks. The latter, who himself had been questionable due to a shoulder injury, nearly completed the first pass attempt of the afternoon and quickly timed a pass breakup on third down to make a tackle for a loss of three yards.

After starting with a three-and-out, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak’s offense tied the score at 7-7 after six plays, four first downs and a poor throw that turned into defensive pass interference. The next two drives gave way to punts before a missed field goal rang off the left upright from 49 yards out and a fumble recovery by Las Vegas brought things to the intermission.

The Raiders took a 14-point halftime deficit. By the end of the game, the visitors were averaging 5.4 yards per play while going 5 of 13 on third down, 0 of 2 on fourth down and 2 of 3 in the red zone. No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza stepped in in relief for his first NFL snaps under center.

The Patriots considered Brock Bowers the No. 1 wide receiver before the game. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder entered Sunday with a team-high 25 targets despite missing the first two games with a knee injury. He was targeted 10 times from there. Those opportunities resulted in eight receptions for 110 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown to a 5-foot-8, 188-pound Patriots captain.

August acquisition Jaylen Reed also saw work in the slot. Recent class of 53 player Kindle Vildor deflected a ball intended for the Raiders’ positionless tight end on third down and also had a fumble on fourth down. He would have fallen to starting safety Craig Woodson.

Ponder is moving up the ranks as the Raiders rush for 2.1 yards per game.

The Patriots started the morning in base defense. Milton Williams, Cory Durden and Joshua Farmer lined up on the interior defensive line. And off the ball were Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss.

Defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr’s group continued to live in the backfield. That was the case as former Boise State FBS All-American Ashton Jeanty rushed for 27 yards on 10 carries and former UNH FCS All-American Dylan Laube scored his first NFL touchdown in the closing stages.

In total, 2.1 yards per rushing attempt for the Raiders. Outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones contributed to the rushing average by not biting on a late turn that resulted in an 11-yard loss. The second-year runner starting opposite the veteran also made more than a dent.

Elijah Ponder had two sacks in the second quarter. He has now been involved in a sack in four straight games. After opening the floodgates on third-and-11 to extend his team’s lead, Cal Poly’s 2025 UDFA sent things to the break by reaching 4.5 sacks on the season while forcing the first fumble of his career. A sack by defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III followed.