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By the Numbers: Lockdown defense in second half leads to Raiders' Week 1 victory

Down three points at halftime on the road, the Las Vegas Raiders didn't flinch.

Thirteen unanswered points surged the Silver and Black past the New England Patriots in their season opener. While Geno Smith had an incredible showing with 362 passing yards, the defense more than held up their end of the bargain en route to victory. Smith and the Raiders offense were able to stack up points in the second half aided by five straight possessions resulting in a turnover or punt by the Patriots.

Here's a look at some numbers and metrics that tell the story of the Raiders' 20-13 win Sunday.

3

After allowing 10 points to the Patriots in the first half, the Raiders defense surrendered only three in the second half.

Not to mention, those three points came off a 44-yard field goal with only 22 seconds remaining in regulation.

The biggest storyline in the tale of two halves was the defense's ability to rush the passer. Drake Maye was sacked three times in the second half – coming from Tyree Wilson, Jonah Laulu and Malcolm Koonce forcing a fumble.

"I thought Pat [Graham] really adjusted well to what was going on in the game," Pete Carroll said Monday after the win. "If you notice, they threw the ball quite a bit, and he adjusted quickly and put us in good positions for rushing in, for covering and changing up and disguising and things like that. That really worked out for us.

"It was a really good surge. You could feel the surge on defense. It kind of changed the complexion of the game. ... At halftime, they weren't flustered about whatever, the score or nothing. They were tuned in and very determined to finish well, and that's what it felt like we did."

60

The Raiders' run defense was stout, limiting the Patriots to 60 net rushing yards. New England's three running backs, receiver DeMario Douglas and quarterback Drake Maye collectively averaged 3.3 yards a carry. The Raiders allowed less rushing yards Sunday than in any of their games in the 2024 season.

Linebacker Devin White led the charge for stopping the run, leading the team with eight solo tackles. The Silver and Black defense also combined for six tackles for loss.

"He was a hammer. He looked good," Carroll said of White's performance. "I was really excited that his presence was so obvious. ... He handled a lot of communication, and he hit the heck out of it. So that was really encouraging, really fired up for him."

1.9

It was presumptive that first-year starter Kyu Blu Kelly would get tested against the New England Patriots.

The 2023 fifth-rounder rose up to the challenge and delivered when called upon. He totaled seven solo tackles and a pass deflection. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Kelly allowed only 1.9 yards of separation in college along with a 37.5 tight window percentage on throws. And when lined up in press coverage on a receiver, Drake Maye went 1-of-3 with a 56.3 quarterback rating, with Kelly as the nearest defender.

In layman's terms, Kelly had a sticky season opener.

"He did a nice job," Carroll said. "He got challenged. They went after him. They throw the ball a lot to the split inside, and he wound up over there. He had some challenges. ... He was on guys the whole time, and he tackled well and supported well out of the secondary, and the secondary contained situations, and when the ball bounces to the corner, he was there. I thought he played a really nice game."

2

Isaiah Pola-Mao came away with his second career interception in Week 1, and the Raiders' first takeaway of the season.

After stepping up in a starting role due to injuries to the secondary in 2024, Pola-Mao has emerged into a full-time starter this season in a Cover 3 defensive scheme he'll be vital in. His interception came early in the second quarter as a quarterback hit from Maxx Crosby affected Maye's throw. The ball floated over intended receiver Stefon Diggs into the Raiders safety's hands.

"I think we got to cover for like what, 2-3 seconds if that. I mean, that makes everybody's job easier," Pola-Mao said posttgame, giving praise to his defensive line. "To have guys like that, Malc [Koonce], and Tyree [Wilson] and Maxx – I mean it's easy."

Pola-Mao allowed 13 yards on two receptions as a nearest defender, with an impressive -4.9 Targeted EPA (Expected Points Added).

View the best photos from the Raiders' Week 1 matchup against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

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