Game Thread: Las Vegas Raiders vs. New England Patriots
Henderson, Nev. -- The Las Vegas Raiders (2-0) head on the road again today to take on the New England Patriots (1-1) in what should be an excellent ball game.
With the high-profile loss of Tom Brady, many counted the Patriots out. But with Bill Belichick at the helm, the Raiders have gone from Brady to Cam Newton and kept on going.
What remains is a well-coached Patriots team that has adapted to the new quarterback's skill set, and a commitment to minimize mistakes.
The Raiders have a lot of reasons to be optimistic. In year three of the Jon Gruden process, they are making massive strides on both sides of the ball. Young players are growing and the organization is clearly moving forward. But that doesn't mean this is a cakewalk. There are multiple reasons for concern.
Heading on the road for a West Coast team, to the East Coast for what is essentially for the Riders a 10 a.m. game is very difficult. When you add to it the injuries, things are not lining up for an easy contest.
Please make sure as the game progresses today that you join us in the comment sections with your thoughts on the contest. We will be posting constant updates right here in this article, so keep refreshing the page for the latest from Foxborough, Mass.
And for the record, it was a fumble.
How to watch or listen to the Las Vegas Raiders versus the New England Patriots Sunday?
TV: CBS 1 PM ET/10 AM PT
Radio: Raider Nation Radio
Odds: New England -5.5
Today's Inactives for the Raiders:
Derek Carr is getting his teammates pumped up. Few minutes until kick-off.
TE Jason Witten caught up with former teammate Tony Romo via video call. Romo and Witten used to be teammates in Dallas.
The Raiders are ready to play in Foxborough.
COIN TOSS: Raiders win the toss and defer. The Silver and Black will receive the ball in the second half.
PENALTY UPDATE - 10:15 AM PDT - Maxx Crosby commits a neutral zone infraction. 4th and 2 turn into a first down for the Patriots.
UPDATE - 10:19 AM PDT - After committing a neutral zone infraction, Maxx Crosby comes back by sacking Cam Newton on third down. Raiders get the ball back on their own 10-yard line after the punt.
UPDATE - 5:51 left in the first quarter - Timeout #1 by New England Patriots
TURNOVER - 3:09 left in the first quarter - Jacobs is forced fumbled by Calhoun. Jackson recovers the ball. First down Patriots on New England's 13-yard line.
TURNOVER - 1:53 left in the first quarter - Johnathan Abram with the interception after Ferrell with the near sack on Newton. Raiders football on Patriots 14-yard line.
PENALTY UPDATE - 0:25 left in the first quarter - Denzelle Good was an ineligible receiver down the field. Five-yard penalty. Replay third down.
SCORING UPDATE #1 - 0:18 left in the first quarter - Placekicker Daniel Carlson kicks it through the upright for a 29-yard field goal. Silver and Black lead by three in Foxborough.
END OF FIRST QUARTER - 10:40 AM PDT - Raiders are up by three after one quarter.
PENALTY UPDATE - 13:41 left in the half - Personal foul, facemask called on Raiders Crosby. 15-yard penalty. First down Patriots.
SCORING UPDATE #2 - 12:32 left in the half - Folk kicks in a 33-yard field goal for the Patriots. The game is tied 3-3.
PENALTY UPDATE - 12:02 left in the half - Illegal use of hands to the face called on John Simpson. Winovich with the sack, Jackson recovers the football. The penalty is declined. Patriots football.
SCORING UPDATE #3 - 7:56 left in the half - Folk kicks in a 23-yard field goal for three points. New England leads 6-3.
TWO MINUTE WARNING - Patriots lead 6-3. Ball on Raiders 31 yard-line. 1st and 10.
SCORING UPDATE #4 - 0:34 left in the half - Rex Burkhead receives an 11-yard touchdown reception. PAT is Good. Patriots lead 13-3.
PENALTY UPDATE - 0:21 left in the half - Pass interference called on the Patriots. Ball is placed on the spot on the foul. First down Raiders.
UPDATE - 0:07 left in the half - Hunter Renfrow delivers and catches a 26-yard reception. Ball on the Patriots one-yard line.
SCORING UPDATE #5 - 0:06 left in the half - Foster Moreau catches a one-yard reception for a touchdown. Ball travels down the field in 28 seconds. Patriots still lead 13-10 in Foxborough.
END OF FIRST HALF - Patriots lead 16-13. Raiders will receive the ball in the second half.
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HALFTIME REPORT:
The Raiders defense was here to play in Foxborough… in the beginning.
After getting roughed up in the first two weeks, Paul Guenther changed up his defensive game plan… and it’s only kind of working.
The Silver and Black defense got started quickly after rolling the dice by deferring the football. It paid off as the Patriots went three and out on their first possession. Trayvon Mullen defended for a couple of quick incompletions. Ferrell with a big stop. He had four solo tackles in the first half.
Meanwhile, Maxx Crosby had an early redemption when he sacked Newton after committing a neutral zone infraction. It was similar to Jalen Richard last week when he avenged a fumble turnover by scoring a touchdown on the next drive.
Johnathan Abram showed his talent as well. He had a huge interception in the first quarter after Ferrell pressured Newton outside of the pocket. It resulted in a field goal for the Silver and Black.
The defense is still a work-in-progress. When the second quarter hit, it was a couple of quick gains by the Taylor and Zuber. Edelman had his first reception for 15 yards. Ultimately, the drive ended with a field goal.
Bill Belichick changes the game to a rush heavy game and the Raiders quickly got pounded on.
By the end of the half, the Patriots scored all 13 points in the second quarter alone. Once Belichick changed gears for the rush heavy game with Michel, Byrd and Burkhead. Combined the three rushed for 86 yards in the first half. Burkhead caught an 11-yard touchdown reception at the end of the second quarter.
In other words, the Silver and Black seem as they’re good at one or the other. If the rush defense is there, then the pass defense struggles. Today, the rush defense is struggling. But when Newton throws it in the air, the coverage is tight and guys all over the field are getting a hand on the football.
The next step for the Silver and Black defense is consistency.
As for the offense, the Raiders showed the same form the first two games.
Gruden got rolling with a phenomenal play call after spreading the Patriots defense with Jacobs running. Jacobs rushed had nine carries for 54 yards in the first half.
By spreading the field, Carr threw to Agholor then to Renfrow with a couple of quick catches to move the ball 47 yards.
However, the pocket has been collapsing on Carr often in the first half. Even then, he threw 8 for 12 and 107 yards.
The one issue for the Raiders offense so far has been forced fumbles.
Both Jacobs and Carr each had a forced fumble in the first half. Credit to the Patriots defense and their discipline but this simply cannot happen.
Especially for Carr, as the offensive line has been collapsing on him. The loss of Richie Incognito is starting to show for the Silver and Black.
With that said, on the final drive of the half, Carr managed to get down the field with limited time. He had 0:34 seconds left to go and get down the field.
And he did exactly that. With six seconds to spare.
In the second half, the Raiders must find consistency in their defense and limit their turnovers on offense in the second half if they want to beat the Patriots.
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INJURY UPDATE - 11:47 AM PDT - CB Damon Arnette is questionable to return. Arnette reinjured his right thumb.
UPDATE - 11:52 AM PDT - The second half is underway. Raiders will get the ball on their own 25-yard line after the touchback.
PENALTY UPDATE - 13:39 left in the third quarter - Prior to the pass, holding Joejuan Williams. First down Raiders.
SCORING UPDATE #6 - 10:43 left in the third quarter - Daniel Carlson misses the field goal. His first miss of the season. Patriots still lead by three.
SCORING UPDATE #7 - 6:41 left in the third quarter - Rex Burkhead cruises in for a five-yard rushing touchdown. PAT is Good. Patriots extend their lead to 10.
INJURY UPDATE - Wide Receiver Bryan Edwards is questionable to return, citing an ankle injury.
SCORING UPDATE #8 - Folk drills the field goal through the uprights. Patriots extend the lead, 23-10.
END OF THIRD QUARTER - 12:28 PM PDT - Patriots lead 23-10 with 15 minutes to go. Fullback Alec Ingold brought a little bit of life to the Silver and Black with a huge hurdle to move the chains.
SCORING UPDATE #9 - 11:22 left to go in the game - Daniel Carlson kicks a 25-yard field goal through the uprights. Patriots still lead 23-13.
PENALTY UPDATE - 10:34 left to go in the game - Prior to the pass, holding called on Lawson. Five-yard penalty.
SCORING UPDATE #10 - 5:23 left in the game - Rex Burkhead rushes in for a two-yard touchdown. The touchdown is confirmed after a review by the booth. PAT is No Good. Keeps this one a two-score game.
PENALTY UPDATE - 5:13 left in the regulation - Illegal block in the back called on Devontae Booker. Half of the distance to the goal. First down Raiders.
SCORING UPDATE #11 - 4:56 left in the game - Derek Carr was sacked by Calhoun and Wise. Carr fumbled the ball in the process. Wise recovers in the endzone for a New England touchdown. PAT is Good. Patriots lead the Raiders, 36-13.
TWO MINUTE WARNING - 1:09 PM PDT - Patriot lead the Raiders 36-13. Raiders have the ball on the Patriots 13-yard line.
SCORING UPDATE #12 - 1:54 left in the game - Hunter Renfrow punches in a 13-yard receiving touchdown. PAT is Good. Patriots lead 36-20 with 1:54 to go in the game.
INJURY UPDATE - 1:53 left to go in the game - Patriots Cody Davis is gingerly jogging off the field after getting injured on the onside kick. Patriots ball.
FINAL: Patriots defeat the Raiders 36-20. 251 yards on the ground for the Patriots today.
Stay tuned right here on Sports Illustrated's Raider Maven for post-game coverage.
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