The Patriots’ 2-2 start has not felt like a clean one. Drake Maye hasn’t looked like the MVP-caliber quarterback he was a year ago, the offense is dealing with injuries and thin spots, and the run game has again been a problem. Now New England heads into Week 5 against the Raiders with one very specific issue staring it in the face: the ball keeps ending up in the wrong hands.
ESPN Research pointed out just how ugly that trend has become. “The Patriots have had multiple turnovers in five straight games (including the playoffs), which is the longest active streak in the NFL,” ESPN Research shared.
That streak dates back to the Super Bowl, and it is one the Patriots can finally put to bed against a Las Vegas team that has been better on defense than many expected. The Raiders come in at 3-1, and they have already shown a knack for taking the ball away, with four interceptions in four games and five fumble recoveries on 13 opportunities this season.
For New England, the challenge is straightforward but not simple. If the Patriots can finish with only one turnover, the streak ends. If they don’t, it stretches to six straight games with at least two giveaways.
Maye’s interception total is the biggest alarm bell. He has thrown seven picks already this season, a number that jumps off the page after he had just eight all of the 2025 season. That problem has been compounded by the rest of the offense, which has not exactly protected the football either.
The Patriots have lost three of seven fumbles, and that has helped push their total to 10 turnovers through the first four weeks. Between the interceptions and the fumbles, there hasn’t been much margin for error.
Against a Raiders defense that has been creating turnovers, New England will have to clean things up fast. Protecting the ball is the path to a win, and it’s also the only way to finally end a streak the Patriots would rather forget.
In Other News...
Patriots Fans Got An Intriguing First Look At The Raiders Top Pick
Fernando Mendoza finally got his first NFL action Sunday, and it came in a tough spot for the Raiders against the Patriots. The No. 1 overall pick entered in the fourth quarter and wasted little time looking comfortable, giving Las Vegas a glimpse of the kind of poise that made him such a central part of the franchises plan.
Mendoza completed his first five pass attempts and helped move the offense into New England territory before the drive bogged down. Even with the Raiders playing from behind, his debut offered a small but encouraging snapshot of what he might bring once he gets a fuller chance to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Maxx Crosby Could Wreck A Patriots Plan The Raiders Must Respect
The Patriots are heading into their matchup with the Raiders with some momentum after a strong offensive showing against Buffalo, but the bigger storyline around the game is how thin theyve become in the secondary. New England is already dealing with significant injury issues at wide receiver and cornerback, which means the supporting cast is being asked to do more, and the defensive side of the ball will have to survive another test without much margin for error.
That makes Maxx Crosby the obvious Raiders player the Patriots have to account for, because he can wreck an opposing plan before it ever gets settled. With New Englands defense stretched and linebacker Matt Spillane potentially carrying expanded responsibilities, the pressure on the Patriots only grows if Crosby starts dictating protection and forcing quick decisions. Even after the Bills game gave them a lift, the Patriots are still walking into a matchup where one elite pass rusher could tilt the entire afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Josh McDaniels Might Deserve More Credit For One Raiders QB Call
Josh McDaniels Raiders tenure is remembered mostly for the stumble that led to his firing, but his post-Raiders coaching path has not been as simple as that one chapter. He has bounced from that setback to a Super Bowl team, and now one of the sharper what-ifs from his time in Las Vegas is resurfacing because of how the quarterback class has played out.
Before the 2023 draft, there was no clean agreement in the Raiders building on which passer belonged at the top of the board, and the difference mattered for a franchise still searching for long-term stability. Bryce Youngs recent rise has given that debate a new life, while C.J. Strouds 2026 start has only sharpened the discussion around how close Las Vegas came to making a very different call. The frustrating part for McDaniels is that the broader story of his offenses remains murky, especially with the reasons behind the struggles in New England still not fully sorted out. [Read more 🡒]