The Raiders spent the first month of the 2026 season convincing people they were different. They opened 3-0, then hung tough with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4 and slipped to 3-1 in a way that still made Las Vegas look credible. For a stretch, the NFL world had reason to take them seriously.
That momentum took a serious hit in Week 5.
Las Vegas got walloped by the New England Patriots, falling 45-17 in a game that looked out of hand from start to finish. A bad afternoon happens in the NFL, but this one landed harder because of what it resembled.
The Raiders didn’t look like a rising team having one rough Sunday. They looked like the version of themselves fans know too well.
That’s why the concern is real: after four promising weeks, there’s now a fear the Raiders could be sliding back into the same old pattern.
Sunday offered plenty of fuel for that worry. Defensively, Las Vegas was a mess.
There were blown coverages, defensive backs beaten deep, and little resistance up front against the run. New England rolled up 536 total yards, including 371 through the air and 165 on the ground, while putting 45 points on the board.
On offense, the day never really opened up beyond Brock Bowers. He was the lone bright spot, finishing with eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. Outside of that, Las Vegas couldn’t run the ball or string together enough drives to make the Patriots feel any pressure.
There is some context here. Klint Kubiak is in his first year as head coach, and the Raiders are dealing with several other major changes.
Growing pains come with that territory, and not every step forward is going to be clean. Games like this can be part of the climb from bad to good.
Still, the jarring part is how quickly expectations changed. After the strong start, fans had already begun to get used to a different kind of Raiders team. What showed up against New England felt more familiar in the worst possible way, and once that kind of performance returns, the fear is that it might not leave easily.
Now the Raiders have to prove Sunday was only a bad night. Their next chance comes in Week 6 against the 4-1 Buffalo Bills, and that matchup doesn’t leave much margin for error. Against a Bills team playing this well, Las Vegas is either headed for another ugly afternoon or another chance to earn respect.
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Brock Bowers Is Forcing A Bigger Raiders Decision
Brock Bowers keeps pushing the Raiders into a conversation they can no longer avoid. The tight end has become one of the most central pieces of the offense, and his latest production only adds to the sense that Las Vegas has a true cornerstone on its hands. He has already stacked up a second 100-yard receiving game this season, another reminder that his role is no longer just promising - it is essential.
For a franchise trying to sort out its long-term offensive identity, Bowers is making the next step obvious even if the timing is not. His work has placed him alongside some of the most productive young pass-catching tight ends in the league, and it has also raised the stakes for future contract talks. The Raiders do not have to decide everything right now, but the direction this is heading is hard to miss. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Have A Jeanty Concern They Cant Ignore Right Now
Ashton Jeanty was out there in Week 5 against the Patriots even while dealing with multiple injuries, a reminder of how quickly the Raiders have come to lean on the rookies presence. For a team still trying to find its footing, having Jeanty on the field matters beyond the box score, and his willingness to suit up says plenty about how he views his role.
The concern, though, is not whether Jeanty wants to play. It is how much the Raiders can keep asking of him if he is already beat up this early in the season. Klint Kubiak confirmed the injuries and praised the toughness it took to keep going, but for Las Vegas, the larger question now is how long that kind of commitment can hold up if the hits keep coming. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders O-Line Struggles Are Turning Up Heat On One Starting Guard
The Raiders offensive line has been a sore spot through the first five weeks, and the guard play has been at the center of it. Spencer Burford and Jackson Powers-Johnson have both had uneven stretches, while D.J. Glaze and Tyler Linderbaum have provided more stability as the team tries to keep the front from becoming a weekly issue.
Burfords recent run has only sharpened the conversation around that spot, especially after a rough outing against New England that stood out in the grading. If the guards do not settle in soon, the Raiders may have to look harder at other options, including second-year guard Caleb Rogers, who remains a possibility to work his way back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]