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Game Preview: Raiders kick off the 2025 season against the New England Patriots

Sep 02, 2025 at 04:00 PM

Rachel Gossen

Digital Managing Editor

For the fourth straight year, the Las Vegas Raiders open their season on the road, this year taking on the New England Patriots.

Over the last 10 seasons, the Raiders have posted a 6-4 record in season openers, with their most recent Week 1 win coming against Denver in 2023.

Kickoff is set for Sunday, Sept. 7 at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Broadcast information

Network/Flagship	Play-by-play	Color Analyst
TV: CBS	Spero Dedes	Adam Archuleta
National Radio: Sports USA	Larry Kahn	Marvin Lewis
Local Radio: KOMP 92.3 FM and KRLV "Raider Nation Radio 920 AM"	Jason Horowitz	Kirk Morrison
Spanish Radio: Deportes Vegas 1460 AM	Harry Ruiz	Mayra Gomez

Opponent profile

Coach: Mike Vrabel

Quarterback: Drake Maye

2024 record: 4-13

Key additions: WR Stefon Diggs, WR Mack Hollins, LB Robert Spillane, T Will Campbell and RB TreVeyon Henderson

Key losses: QB Jacoby Brissett, QB Joe Milton and CB Jonathan Jones

Patriots Roster | Patriots Depth Chart

What to know

Both teams begin 2025 with new head coaches – Pete Carroll for the Raiders and Mike Vrabel for the Patriots.

Vrabel spent eight years as a player for New England where he became a three-time Super Bowl champion. He transitioned to coaching in 2011 and in 2018, was hired as the Tennessee Titans head coach, where he guided the team to two division titles and three playoff appearances.

Carroll, who has previously helmed the Patriots, Jets and Seahawks, is 11-7 all-time in Week 1 games. Now heading into his first game coaching the Raiders, his excitement – and expectations – are high.

"Because of where I am in my career, looking at this," Carroll said last week, "it's just such a joyful opportunity to me. ... I really don't feel that much different. But yet, there's some things that, through the evolving of this last year, made a difference in the way I see things, and I've been able to implement and institute some things that I hadn't done before that I'm really excited about seeing the results."

The Patriots are 6-2 in their last eight games against the Raiders, but the Raiders have won the last two matchups. The Raiders will look to make it win three wins versus New England for the first time since a three-game streak from 1989-2002. However, the Raiders, visiting Foxborough for just the third time in the past 20 seasons, are one of seven NFL teams to have never won a game there since the stadium opened in 2002.

2024 Regular Season Stats	Raiders	Patriots
Total Offense & Rank in League	303.2 ypg; 27th	291.9 ypg; 31st
Passing Offense	223.4 ypg; 13th	176.1 ypg; 32nd
Rushing Offense	79.8 ypg; 32nd	115.8 ypg; 13th
Points Per Game	18.2 ppg; tied for 28th	17.0 ppg; 30th
Total Defense	333.1 ypg; 15th	343.4 ypg; 22nd
Pass Defense	216.2 ypg; 15th	211.5 ypg; 10th
Rush Defense	116.9 ypg; 13th	131.4 ypg; 23rd
Points Allowed Per Game	25.5 ppg; tied for 25th	24.5 ppg; 22nd

Matchup history

The Patriots lead the all-time regular season series against the Raiders, 18-16-1.
Last time: Raiders won last meeting, 21-17, on Oct. 15, 2023.

Milestones to watch this season

Brock Bowers needs 85 receptions to surpass Justin Jefferson (196), Amon-Ra St. Brown (196) and Michael Thomas (196) for the most receptions by a player in his first two seasons in NFL history.
Bowers needs 35 receptions to surpass Sam LaPorta (146) for the most receptions by a tight end in his first two seasons all-time.
Bowers needs 787 receiving yards to surpass Mike Ditka (1,980) for the most receiving yards by a tight end in his first two seasons in NFL history.
With 1,000 receiving yards, Bowers would become the first tight end in NFL history to start his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Daniel Carlson need 96 points scored in 2025 to pass Dan Bailey (927) for the 10th most points scored in NFL history among kickers in their first eight NFL seasons.
With eight makes of 50+ yards, Daniel Carlson would reach 40 made field goals of 50+ yards in his career. He would become one of 15 kickers in the NFL since 2000 to accomplish the feat.
With six punts of 60+ yards in 2025, AJ Cole would become one of seven punters in the NFL since 2000 to record 70 punts of 60+ yards.
Maxx Crosby needs four tackles for loss in his first five games to surpass Von Miller (108) for the third-most tackles for loss by a player in his first 100 career games since 2000, trailing only J.J. Watt (150) and Aaron Donald (123).
Crosby needs seven tackles for loss to surpass Von Miller (111) for the fourth-most by a player in his first seven seasons since 2000, trailing only J.J. Watt (136), Aaron Donald (131) and DeMarcus Ware (127).

Team connections

Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler played for the Patriots for four seasons (2017-20).
Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers originally signed with New England as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and spent four seasons with the team.
Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts was draft by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft and spent four seasons with the team.
Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll spent three seasons as the head coach of the Patriots (1997-99).
Raiders senior offensive assistant Bob Bicknell coached tight ends for the Patriots during the 2024 season.
Raiders assistant offensive line coach Andy Dickerson began his career with the Patriots, spending two seasons (2004-05) as an operations intern/coaching assistant.
Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham spent seven seasons with the Patriots (2009-15), starting as a coaching assistant and later coaching defensive line and linebackers.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels served as the Raiders head coach from 2022-23.
Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams began his coaching career with the Raiders in 2012 as the defensive line coach.
Patriots offensive line coach Doug Marrone was drafted by the Raiders in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft.
Patriots wide receivers coach Todd Downing was the Raiders offensive coordinator in 2017, previously serving as the team's QBs coach from 2015-16.
Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane spent two seasons with the Raiders (2023-24).
Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins played for the Raiders in the 2022 season.
Patriots linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson spent one season with the Raiders.
Patriots tight end Austin Hooper spent the 2023 season with the Raiders.

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jeff Driskel (17) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.