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FOXBOROUGH, Ma – The Raiders’ promising start to Klint Kubiak’s first season in charge took a major detour Sunday in New England, where a 45-17 blowout loss to the Patriots exposed weaknesses across the board. From a stagnant running game to costly penalties and defensive breakdowns, their second straight defeat revealed how much work still remains in their rebuild.
Here are three takeaways:
Raiders’ discipline disappears at the worst time
The Raiders arrived in New England having surrendered fewer penalty yards than any team in the NFL.
Then they spent the first half looking like a team that had forgotten how to get out of its own way.
After accumulating just 120 penalty yards through their first four games, the Raiders piled up 80 before halftime against the Patriots. That grew to 101 yards on right penalties by the end of the game.
For a team with little margin for error offensively, that was an especially damaging departure from one of its early strengths.
On defense, the flags created favorable situations for the Patriots. On offense, they pushed the Raiders behind the sticks, asking an already inconsistent unit to overcome distances it too often could not handle.
The penalties were only part of the problem. Negative plays compounded the damage, none more frustrating than an 11-yard loss on a failed end around to Tre Tucker late in the first half.
The Raiders had just forced a fumble and taken over at the Patriots’ 38-yard line, with a chance to tie the game or take the lead before halftime.
Instead, a promising opportunity became a punishing swing.
The possession unraveled, and Matt Gay’s 49-yard field-goal attempt clanged off the left upright. Maye made sure the Raiders paid for the wasted takeaway, driving the Patriots 61 yards and finding tight end Hunter Henry for a 5-yard touchdown that stretched New England’s lead to 21-7.
That is particularly costly for an offense still struggling to establish a reliable running game. Every backward step increases the pressure on the passing attack and makes the next play more predictable.
The Raiders had built part of their promising start on avoiding those mistakes.
Against the Patriots, they repeatedly created the very problems they needed to avoid.
Running game keeps dragging the Raiders backward
The Raiders needed progress from their running game.
Instead, they got another reminder of how much work remains.
While falling behind 21-7 in the first half against the Patriots, the Raiders managed just 19 rushing yards on 11 carries. Ashton Jeanty accounted for 16 yards on six attempts, unable to provide the spark an increasingly one-dimensional offense desperately needed.
It did not get any better in the second half, and the Raiders ended up with 38 yards on 18 carries.
There is an obvious health component to the discussion. Jeanty was limited in Thursday’s practice and did not participate Friday because of ankle and foot injuries. He was cleared to play after a short pregame workout, but being available and being fully healthy are different things.
Jeanty still appeared to be operating below full strength.
The blocking did little to help.
Between the lack of push up front and a running back who appeared physically limited, the Raiders again struggled to create the manageable situations that allow an offense to function consistently.
Instead, too many possessions became exercises in overcoming poor early-down production.
The problem extends beyond Jeanty’s health. This has been a season-long issue, and it has contributed significantly to the Raiders’ two-game losing streak. An offense cannot keep asking its passing game to compensate for a running attack that offers so little support.
Falling behind eventually changes play-calling priorities. But the Raiders’ inability to run effectively also helped create the deficit that forced those adjustments.
That is the cycle they must break.
Until they do, their offense will remain vulnerable to the same problems that keep showing up weekly.
Aggressive defense gives Drake Maye what he wants
There is a difference between making a quarterback uncomfortable and giving him an invitation.
Too often against Drake Maye, the Raiders did the latter.
Their willingness to leave cornerbacks in single coverage on the perimeter repeatedly presented the Patriots quarterback with throws he was comfortable making. With little pressure forcing him to hurry, Maye had opportunities to identify those matchups and attack.
He gladly accepted.
The risks became painfully clear in the third, when Maye beat rookie cornerback Zeke Masses for a 34-yard touchdown to Kyle Williams, stretching New England’s lead to 28-7. He also attacked Darien Porter for a 49-yard completion that set up Andy Borregales’ 28-yard fourth-quarter field goal to make it 38-10.
Both plays exposed the cost of leaving young cornerbacks on their own without enough pressure to disrupt the quarterback.
Aggressiveness is part of their identity. There is value in trusting defenders to compete and refusing to concede easy yardage.
But confidence must be supported by the circumstances.
Maye was comfortable attempting those perimeter throws. The Raiders were not generating enough pressure to consistently disrupt him. And their young cornerbacks were being asked to hold up in assignments that left little room for error.
That combination favored the Patriots.
The issue is how often the Raiders were willing to make the same bet without the pass rush necessary to improve their odds.
Young cornerbacks will experience growing pains. Leaving them exposed against a quarterback capable of exploiting those matchups can turn those lessons into touchdowns.
The Raiders do not need to abandon their aggressive personality.
They do need to recognize when an opponent is benefiting from it more than they are that day.
