Charles Krupa/AP
FOXBOROUGH- The Patriots delivered a dominant performance at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, cruising to an emphatic 45-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Behind a career afternoon from quarterback Drake Maye and a relentess overall effort on both sides of the ball, New England put together its most complete game of the season to move to 3-2.
1. Patriots offense explodes in big 45-17 win: The Patriots’ offense was unstoppable from the opening kickoff, amassing a season-high 536 yards of total offense. New England sustained long drives, capitalized on open space, and effortlessly balanced the attack to keep the Raiders’ defense off-balance for all four quarters. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels had a masterful plan and called a great game.
2. Maye plays the best game of his career: Drake Maye delivered the single best game of his NFL career, executing with surgical precision throughout the afternoon. He completed 26 of 34 passes for 374 yards, throwing four touchdown passes alongside a rushing touchdown to finish with an elite 150.9 passer rating in his first turnover-free game of the year. Maye was flawless today and showcased the MVP form we saw from him last season.
3. Both Will Campbell and TreyVeon Henderson get hurt: Despite the win, New England suffered notable losses on offense when rookie left tackle Will Campbell left the game with a knee injury and running back TreVeyon Henderson sustained an ankle injury on the same drive. Their conditions will be monitored closely heading into next week.
4. Defense stays connected despite missing starting corners: Playing without key starters in the secondary, including top cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III, the defense stepped up admirably in coverage. Both Charles Woods and Kindle Vildor did a terrific job in man and zone coverage. They prevented Las Vegas from generating big plays downfield after an early score. Brock Bowers caught 8 passes for 110 yards but he didn’t really hurt the Patriots.
While the offense grabbed headlines, the defense set a physical tone at the line of scrimmage. The unit racked up three sacks, generated consistent pressure on Kirk Cousins, and forced a key fumble recovery to shut the door on any hopes of a Las Vegas comeback.
5. Patriots make several big plays in the passing game: Maye repeatedly took advantage of single coverage, stretching the field with explosive chunk plays. Pop Douglas reaped the benefits with two touchdown grabs, while tight end Hunter Henry and wideout Kyle Williams added touchdown catches of their own to highlight a big day through the air. The vertical passing game is back in New England.
6. Blowout win proof that the Patriots are starting to figure things out: Coming off inconsistent performances earlier in the season, this blowout victory demonstrates clear progress across all units. The line protection held firm, execution in the red zone was sharp, and the play-calling played directly to the team’s core strengths.
7. 2001 Super Bowl team and Adam Vinatieri honored: The 2001 Super Bowl Team was honored in a pregame ceremony. Thirty-two former players and coaches from the historic 2001 squad returned to Foxborough for the festivities. Notable attendees included Hall of Famers Richard Seymour and Ty Law, alongside franchise favorites like Tedy Bruschi, Troy Brown, Lawyer Milloy, Willie McGinest, Kevin Faulk, and Dante Scarnecchia.
Adam Vinatieri’s Hall of Fame Ring Presentation was at halftime. Vinatieri officially received his Pro Football Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence. True to form against the opponent that helped spark that legendary 2001 run, Vinatieri playfully poked fun at the Las Vegas Raiders during his speech, reflecting back on the snowy “Tuck Rule” playoff game and his storied career.
I thought Robert Kraft would waive the fan vote and put him in the Patriots Hall of Fame but he did not.