Raiders suffer huge embarrassment in Foxboro

Everything the Las Vegas Raiders worked for to change the mindset about the team over the first four weeks of the season went out the window on Interstate-95 on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Drake Maye was five yards away from a personal best throwing day as he led the New England Patriots to a 45-17 emphatic rout of the Raiders at Gillette Stadium in front of a sold out crowd.

“It was beautiful to be a part of today," Maye said. "There’s still some out there.”

New England (3-2) scored on its first two possessions in the first quarter. Both drives were aided by passing interfence penalties on the Raiders. On the first drive, Erick Stokes was called for 24-yard penalty when he grabbed the jersey of Romeo Doubs that set up the Patriots inside the red zone. Two plays later Maye connected with Doubs for a 16-yard touchdown down the middle to jump out to a 7-0 lead.

“That’s what it has to be," coach Mike Vrabel said. "They realize when you get an opportunity, you do something with it.”

Las Vegas' (3-2) offense responded on its second drive of the game with a six play drive that spanned 80 yards to even the score. Quarterback Kirk Cousins used his favorite target tight end Brock Bowers twice on the drive. On the the sixth play Cousins threw a fade route to the back of the endzone where Bowers hauled in a fantastic over the shoulder catch with a Pats corner back draped all over him for his third touchdown of the season.

That was as good as it would get for the Raiders as their defense had no answer for Maye and the Patriots offense that had their way and most productive game of the season. Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard rarely blitz and had Las Vegas only rushing four leaving Maye with plenty of time to find open receivers that exposed the young secondary deep down the field for a second straight week.

New Englad had 536 yards of total offense with 165 of those coming on the ground as the Patriots controlled the time of possession for more than half the game.

Rhamondre Stevenson, who came in to replace starting running back TreVeyon Henderson who left the game in the first quarter with an injury, put New England back up by a touchdown when he easily rushed into the endzone for a five-yard scamper.

The Raiders offense stalled out with two punts and a missed field goal by Matt Gay in their final three possessions of the first half. The Patriots closed out the half with a 11-yard touchdown reception to tight end Hunter Henry on a post route that Raiders linebacker Naobe Dean was guilty of holidng on the play with 21 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

New England needed just four plays to put the game away to start the second half. Maye threw a deep ball down the sideline that wide receiver Kyle Williams was able to haul in for a 34-yard touchdown reception. Williams led the Patriots in receiving with three catches for 91-yards.

The Patriots scored two more touchdowns and a field goal to finish out the game as former Raiders head coach, and Patriots offensive coordintor Josh McDaniels made sure to rub it in against his former team where he was exiled on Halloween in 2023.

Cousins finished 19 of 28 for 243 yards to go along with his touchdown before Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak pulled out the white flag in the middle of the fourth quarter. While he didn't throw an interception, he was pressured constantly by New England's front four and blitz scheme throughout the day. Cousins was sacked three times for 23 yards.

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza made his NFL debut in the late stages of garbage time. The former 2026 overall first pick out of Indiana had a descent debut going six out eight for 48 yards as he marched the Raiders down the field on 10 plays, on his only drive of the game, that finished with turning the ball over on downs after his three-yard scramble out of the pocket left him a yard short of the first down at the Patriots 14-yard line.

Bowers was the only positive for Las Vegas as he led all receiver with eight catches for 110 yards to go with his touchdown. Ashton Jeanty had a quite game with just 27 yards on 10 carries but chipped in with three receptions for 50 yards. The Raiders offensive line had its worst game of the season as they were dominated inside the trenches and weren't able to give Cousins time to throw the ball.

Maye, who was the worst quarterback after the first three weeks of the season, had a rebirth as he finished 26 of 34 for 374 yards and four touchdowns as he barely broke a sweat. DeMario Douglas had four catches for 65 yards with two touchdowns. Stevensen led all rushers with 64 yards on 13 carries.

Kubiak's play calling was not one to write home about. He never made adjustments especially when New England sent blitzes on Cousins. The rushing attack only had 38 yards and overall the offense was 5-for-13 on third down conversions.

“We’re not happy with what happened today, and we’ve got to go do something about it,” Kubiak said.

Las Vegas will need to lick their wounds and go back to the drawing board as they prepare to host the Buffalo Bills, as the schedule doesn't get any easier, on Sunday October 18 at 1:25pm at Allegiant Stadium.