A big part of the Las Vegas Raiders 3-1 overall mark after the first four games of the season is the team’s 2-0 performance in away games.
In Weeks 2 and 3, the Silver & Black topped both the Los Angeles Chargers (26-14) and New Orleans Saints (35-27), respectively, in impressive outings that showcased complementary football from Klint Kubiak’s squad. After a tough loss to AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs (30-27) this past Sunday within the confines of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the Raiders
are again away from home with a Week 5 tilt at the New England Patriots (2-2).
Without question, Raider Nation is eager for a Raider rebound against the Pats.
“Just focusing on the first quarter of the season, what we’ve done well, what we need to improve on, and knowing that our opponents are working on our weaknesses all the time,” Kubiak responded when asked what’s his message to the team coming off a loss. “So, there’s so many little things on each side of the ball that that we’re keying on, and we’re trying to be very intentional about improving.”
New England was quite intentional last Sunday when the team handed the AFC East favorite Buffalo Bills a sobering 29-26 loss. It’s a game where the Patriots churned out 402 yards of total offense and overcame their own turnovers by generating two takeaways to stun the Bills and hand Buffalo its first loss of the 2026 season.
And that’s where will start with how the Raiders remain unbeaten on the road: Turnovers.
The Week 4 loss to the Chiefs was the first game this year where Rob Leonard’s Raiders defense didn’t register a takeaway. Heading into that clash of then AFC West unbeatens, Las Vegas paced the league (and is still the leader) in forcing turnovers with nine total. The high mark so far was four against the Saints (with three coming against the Bolts and two against the Dolphins).
The host Patriots are tied for the most giveaways this season at 10 (with the Chargers) and if there’s a team ripe for the pickings, it’s New England.
Las Vegas needs to return to either jarring the ball loose or picking it off against a team that seemingly can’t protect the football. With Leonard deploying an attacking and fast defense, the Raiders should be able to accomplish this, especially considering the main culprit for the Patriots turnovers is quarterback Drake Maye.
The third-year signal caller has seven interceptions and two fumbles lost through four games which should have middle linebacker Nakobe Dean (team-leading three forced fumbles an 32 total tackles, along with 1.5 sacks), safety Jeremy Chinn (two forced fumbles), edge rusher Malcolm Koonce (two forced fumbles, 2.5 sacks), and rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses (team-leading three interceptions) and the rest of the Raiders defense champing at the bit to square off with New England’s Josh McDaniels-led offense.
“It always comes back to fundamentals and execution, especially in the critical moments. That they felt the reality of what you preach every day, of being locked in, regardless of the environment and how loud it is. A call can’t save you,” Leonard said on the lessons he hopes his defense learned in the loss to Kansas City. “It comes down to fundamentals and taking the ball away and playing blocks the right way, releasing blocks, being on the same page in coverage.”
With weather projections indicating a 75 percent chance of heavy rain in Foxborough during Sunday’s game, Las Vegas must be locked in on stopping the Patriots ground game that’s produced 471 yards through four games which ranks them 11th most in the league. Attacking the ball carriers and making the Patriots one dimensional will help the Raiders’ rebound quest.
Flip it to Kubiak’s offense and he needs to rejuvenate a Raiders run game that’s been spinning its wheels as of late. And the late addition of starting running back Ashton Jeanty to the injury report compounds matters. The talented tailback hasn’t looked completely healthy and he didn’t practice on Friday before Las Vegas traveled to New England.
Fortunately for Kubiak, he does have talented rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. in tow and the Arkansas product has the team’s lone touchdown run on the year. There’s also veteran running back Dylan Laube on the depth chart and a pair of tailbacks on the practice squad — undrafted rookie Roman Hemby and Owen Wright — if Jeanty can’t go against the Patriots.
“I think we just have to pay attention to our details,” Raiders offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko said when asked what it’ll take to get a consistent run game. “Starting with ourselves, what we’re asking of the players, how we’re attacking each plan, what we are attacking each game plan. Then, presenting a great plan to the players, allowing them to be detailed so they can go out, play fast, and attack it. That’s what we’re looking forward to doing.”
If the Patriots are able to replicate what opposing defenses have done — stacking the box against the Raiders heavy formations and stifling the run — Kubiak’s passing attack led by super veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and tight end (apparently in name only now) Brock Bowers needs to be on point. Especially if inclement weather if it does pour.
This is where it’s compounding matters for both Las Vegas and New England, however.
The Raiders will be without normal starting wide receiver Jalen Nailor (concussion) while the Patriots will be without its top two cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez (shoulder) and Carlton Davis (neck) and a third Channing Canada (hamstring).
Expect Cousins to look frequently at Bowers and rising wide receiver Cody White when the attack goes aerial. And against an ailing secondary, success should be plentiful.
Quotes of Note
“Everything we do starts in practice, and as we practice, we build confidence with guys, and when opportunities come by, taking advantage of those opportunities. I think that a lot of those times, as long as guys keep their head down, they work, those things happen organically. So, when you see a guy’s number called, he makes a play, and then that always gets more playing time.”
—Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko on what rookie wide receiver Malik Benson needs to do to get more playing time/opportunities on offense
“Yeah, I mean I would tell you candidly, but I’m not going to. But I mean, we’re going to go down being aggressive, whatever that means. That’s all I’ll say about that.”
—Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard when asked where the team has to improve when deploying Cover Zero looks.
