In a physical season kickoff at Gillette Stadium on September 7, 2025, the Las Vegas Raiders notched a 20-13 decision over the New England Patriots. Pete Carroll's renovated roster blended sharp aerial strikes with lockdown defense to snag the victory and send the Pats to 0-1. Geno Smith excelled in his Silver and Black debut, and rookie Ashton Jeanty delivered a crucial plunge.
Carroll's attack pounced early. A swift six-play, 66-yard trek ended with Smith zipping a 26-yard touchdown to Tre Tucker on a precise post route, leaving the receiver uncovered beyond the secondary for the 7-0 cushion at 5:23 of the opening frame. The bootleg fake from Carroll's arsenal cofused the Pats, as Smith sidestepped rushers to drop it perfectly in Tucker's hands.
The Patriots fired back. Drake Maye, the rookie starter, engineered an eight-play, 68-yard response, hitting DeMario Douglas on a 12-yard slant to knot it at 7-7 near quarter's end. In the second, Borregales' 28-yard field goal nudged New England ahead 10-7 at halftime. Maye tallied 30-of-46 for 287 yards and a touchdown, marred by dual picks. Kayshon Boutte led the charge with six grabs for 103 yards, his 44-yard third-quarter scorch keeping the hosts afloat.
Carroll's tweaks flipped the script after break. His defense, rooted in Seattle's turnover-hungry, run-quelling system, stifled the Pats to 137 yards and a lone field goal in the latter stanzas. Momentum pivoted mid-third: Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao intercepted a Maye lob targeted at Rhamondre Stevenson at the New England 42. Though not returned for six, the pick quieted the fans and ignited the Raiders. On the ensuing third-and-goal, Jeanty hammered in from three yards, his first pro score, through a seam carved by the revamped offensive line, forging a 14-10 lead. The Boise State draftee closed with 19 rushes for 38 yards, his tenacity fueling Las Vegas' ground revival.
Veteran savvy steered the Raiders through the fourth. Smith, 34 went 24-of-35 for 362 yards and a score, carving up the back end. Facing third-and-8 from their 25, he rolled out and lofted a 28-yard screen to Zamir White, who churned ahead for the conversion and territorial edge. That paved Daniel Carlson's 40-yard boot at 6:46, ballooning the margin to 17-10. Jakobi Meyers, revisiting his Pats past, plagued them via eight catches for 97 yards, featuring a 23-yard out-route snag where he shed a tackler en route to yards after catch.
The edge rush mauled Maye. Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce notched two sacks and four QB hits within nine pressures, highlighted by Crosby's third-quarter strip on third down that yielded a punt. Brock Bowers flashed pre-knee knock, reeling five for 103 yards on a 38-yard max; the hookup with Smith portends mismatches, and he's day-to-day but primed for return.
New England trimmed to 20 -13 via Borregales' 44-yarder at 0:19, yet their final push sputtered. On fourth-and-4 from the NE 44, Maye's deep sideline attempt to Boutte dropped incomplete, thanks to the Raiders' secondary corps locking down in Carroll's disciplined coverage, no standout, but unified disruption amid front-four heat.
Smith claimed offensive game ball for his franchise-record debut yards (top since 1980 starters). His cool amid chaos, capped by a 35-yard laser to Dont'e Thornton Jr., echoed elite vintages. Pola-Mao's pick garners defensive kudos for the setup, bolstered by the line's havoc and backfield's poise. Standout sequences: Tucker's post-route opener, Jeanty's line-backed burst, Meyers' evasion artistry, all channeling Carroll's relentless culture.
This win bodes well for Carroll's Raiders reboot. The 73-year-old tactician, post-Seahawks respite, etched his blueprint pronto: A unit that hemorrhaged turnovers in 2024 now snared two turnovers and corralled the rush (Pats mustered 43 post-half). Smith's precision, Jeanty's spark, Bowers' edge, plus a stable line sans past anchors, signal AFC West menace in 2025.
Now 1-0, skeptics hush. Primetime awaits: Monday Night Football versus the Los Angeles Chargers on September 15 at Allegiant Stadium.
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