The Raiders are heading into Week 5 with a chance to reset, and the timing is tricky. Sunday brings their first early kickoff of the season, their second trip east in three weeks, and a Patriots team fresh off a big win. That’s not exactly a soft landing.
Still, Las Vegas has reason to believe this is a game it can handle. Klint Kubiak’s group comes in after a close loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but this doesn’t look like the Raiders teams that used to let one defeat unravel into another. If they play clean football and execute, they can leave New England with a win.
One of the biggest questions hanging over this matchup is the run game, because that’s been the sore spot for Las Vegas all week long. The Raiders have gone three straight games without finding much traction on the ground, and the issue goes beyond Ashton Jeanty not being at full strength. Jeanty was downgraded during the week with an added foot injury, and the overall operation has looked off.
That has put extra strain on Kirk Cousins, who should not have to carry the offense every week for Las Vegas. The Patriots are not as firm against the run as they’ve been in previous seasons, so this is the right spot for the Raiders to wake that part of the offense up.
The other obvious path for Las Vegas is on defense, where the pass rush has a real chance to shape the afternoon. The Patriots have issues on the right side, and that’s where Maxx Crosby works.
If New England tilts protection toward him, Malcolm Koonce and Kwity Paye need to finish the job. Drake Maye has had a rough time when pressured this year, with his accuracy slipping and his turnover-worthy plays climbing, so the Raiders can tilt this game by forcing him into mistakes.
And then there’s the health edge. The Patriots are walking into this one banged up in several spots, with key names dealing with injuries across the roster.
Las Vegas, by comparison, is relatively healthy aside from Jalen Nailor’s absence. Dont'e Thornton Jr. is not ready to return, and Jeanty clearly isn’t at 100 percent, but most of the roster appears available.
The Raiders’ injury report lists Jalen Nailor, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, Spencer Burford, Foley Fatukasi, Segun Olubi, Dont'e Thornton Jr., Cody White and Trey Zuhn III. For New England, the list includes Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Rhamondre Stevenson, Christian Barmore, Christian Elliss, Craig Woodson, Mack Hollins, Dre'Mont Jones, Morgan Moses, Channing Canada, Reggie Gilliam, Karon Prunty, Charles Woods and Drake Maye.
That’s where the matchup gets interesting for Las Vegas. The Patriots’ short-handed roster gives the Raiders a chance to attack weak points, rotate enough to stay fresh, and press advantages instead of waiting for them.
Brock Bowers should be a focal point, because New England doesn’t have anyone who can really handle him. On top of that, the Patriots’ right side is vulnerable, and the Raiders should be ready to overload it.
So this one comes down to whether Las Vegas plays like the more complete team. The path is there: get the run game moving, pressure Maye, and hammer the places where New England is thin. If the Raiders do those things, this is very much a game they can take.
Expert predictions split down familiar lines, with plenty leaning Raiders and plenty siding with the Patriots. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Kalyn Kahler, Pamela Maldonado, Lindsey Thiry and Seth Wickersham picked Las Vegas, while Ben Solak, Jason Reid, Matt Bowen, Dan Graziano and Mike Clay went with New England, along with Eric Moody.
NFL Media had Colleen Wolfe, Brandon Perna, Tom Grossi and Nick Shook on the Raiders side, while Grant Gordon, Brooke Cersosimo, Bucky Brooks, Lance Zierlein, Dan Parr and Kevin Patra chose the Patriots. Bleacher Report leaned Raiders with Brett Sobleski, Gary Davenport, Moe Moton, Kristopher Knox and Ian Hanford, while Brad Gagnon and Wes O'Donnell took New England.
In Other News...
Raiders Suddenly Have A Quarterback Question Before Bills Week
Fernando Mendoza finally got his first NFL snaps in Week 5, and the rookie quarterback made a quick impression in limited work, going 6-for-8 for 48 yards on a late drive. It was only a cameo, but it was enough to turn a routine week for the quarterback room into something worth watching as the Raiders move toward a matchup with the Bills.
Kirk Cousins has handled the job through the first five games, completing 65.1 percent of his passes for 1,269 yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions, but head coach Klint Kubiak opened the door to a possible change this week. For a team still trying to settle its offensive identity, the question now is whether Mendozas first taste of action was just a spot appearance or the beginning of a much bigger conversation in Las Vegas. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Run Game Issues Put Klint Kubiak On The Spot
Klint Kubiak did not try to soften the conversation around the Raiders run game when he met with reporters, acknowledging the offense has work to do after another stretch of frustrating results on the ground. The head coach pointed to Ashton Jeantys drops and the way the offensive line has performed, making it clear those issues have become part of a larger offensive concern rather than isolated mistakes.
Kubiak also touched on rookie Mike Washington Jr. and why his role has remained limited, while explaining the decision to go with another player on a key fourth-quarter snap. The bigger takeaway was the same one hanging over Las Vegas all along: the Raiders have to sort out both personnel and coaching approaches if they want the run game to become dependable again. [Read more 🡒]
Sean Payton Sends Mixed Message On Broncos Offense After Big Change
The Broncos are still sorting through the ripple effects of their recent change in offensive playcalling, and Sean Paytons comments landed somewhere between patient and pointed. He acknowledged the challenges the move has created, but he also made a point of praising the way his players have handled the transition, a sign that Denver is trying to steady itself while the offense works through a reset.
For the Raiders, the attention shifts to quarterback Fernando Mendoza, whose NFL debut came in late relief during a blowout loss to the Patriots. He finished 6 of 8 for 48 yards, a small sample that at least offered a first look at what he can do, even if it arrived under difficult circumstances. Head coach Klint Kubiak said there will be no change to the Raiders starters, leaving Mendozas next step tied more to development than any immediate shake-up. [Read more 🡒]