Kickoff: The Patriots return to Gillette Stadium for a crucial matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. With a few key pieces missing on defense, coaching and situational football will be big keys for the Patriots today as they try to navigate around playing without half of their secondary and their starting fullback being out against a much improved Raiders team. A Raiders team that enters the game at 3-1 and a team that took the Chiefs to the brink last week.
Here are four keys to today’s game.
Four Keys to the Game
1st Down: Prioritize the running game Establishing a physical presence early to take the pressure off the passing game and control the clock is key. Feeding both Rhamondre Stevenson and TreyVeon Henderson early opens up manageable second- and third-down scenarios, wearing down a tough Las Vegas front seven before they can pin their ears back and rush the passer.
2nd Down: Play more zone coverage with Gonzalez and Davis out: With Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III sidelined, asking backups Charles Woods and Kindle Vildor to play an entire game of man-to-man coverage is a risky proposition. Shifting toward disciplined, structured zone plan will help keep explosive receivers and tight ends in front of the defense, limiting big plays downfield and forcing long, methodical drives.
3rd Down: Base pass rush must get to Cousins: Kirk Cousins thrives when he is allowed to stand comfortably in a clean pocket and dissect coverages. Without relying on excessive, high-risk blitzes that expose a depleted secondary, the front four must win their individual matchups and collapse the pocket to disrupt his timing. Milton Williams and Gabe Jacas in particular need to have big games.
4th Down: Win the turnover battle: In tightly contested football games, extra possessions and field position are the ultimate equalizer. Securing timely takeaways while protecting the football on offense will swing momentum and ultimately decide who walks out of Foxborough with the victory.
Extra Points: The Patriots and Raiders share one of the most storied and dramatic head-to-head rivalries in NFL history, highlighted by the infamous “Tuck Rule” playoff game in January 2002, which paved the way for New England’s first-ever Super Bowl championship under the Bill Belichick and Tom Brady era. The Patriots hold an 18-17-1 lead in the regular season against the Raiders. The teams have met three times in the playoffs, producing a memorable, classic encounter on each occasion. In 1976, the Patriots beat the Raiders, 48-17, in the regular season before losing a playoff game in Oakland, 24-21. The Patriots advanced to their first AFC Championship Game in 1985 after beating the Raiders, 27-20, in Los Angeles. In 2001, the Patriots beat Oakland, 16-13, in overtime in the last game ever played in Foxboro Stadium, en route to winning Super Bowl XXXVI.
Final Drive: The banged up Patriots need this game. Plain and simple. They will have added motivation with members of the 2001 Super Bowl team in the house to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the franchise’s first title. If the Patriots can establish their ground game, control the clock and finish drives, they will win this game. The defense is short handed. It cannot fall on them to win this game.