FOXBOROUGH, Mass — The New England Patriots took the field in their red throwback uniforms with everything to prove, and they did just that. In their best all-around performance of the year, the Patriots dominated on all fronts, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 45-17.
Here are some takeaways following the game:
1. Drake Maye puts up the best performance of the season
Drake Maye was firing on all cylinders in Sunday's game against the Raiders, with the quarterback proving that this team is ready and rearing to go. The star quarterback finished the day with four touchdown passes, making it the first time in his career to have back-to-back games with at least 3 touchdown passes. And with that, he's the first Patriots quarterback to do so since Tom Brady threw back-to-back three-touchdown games in 2018.
He finished the game completing 26-of-34 passes for 374 yards and five touchdowns, four of which were passing while one was rushing.
2. Injuries continue to pile up
The offensive injuries continue to pile up for the Patriots, with Will Campbell going down in the second quarter. Trainers immediately started tending to his right leg/knee, but he was able to walk off on his own power and into the blue medical tent. He departed shortly after for the locker room. In his place, it was rookie tackle Caleb Lomu who came on. Lomu has been spending some time at right tackle as well, with many expecting him to take over for Morgan Moses in the following years. But left tackle was the position Lomu played in college.
The Patriots also lost running back TreVeyon Henderson to an ankle injury, as he was listed as questionable to return before the end of the first half, before being downgraded to out. Following Henderson's injury, Corey Kiner came into the game, but fumbled on his first carry, with the ball being knocked loose by defensive tackle Adam Butler and recovered by cornerback Darian Porter. Luckily though, Matt Gay missed the 49-yard field goal, with it bouncing off the left upright (doink!).
And New England also suffered an injury at the one position they couldn't afford to, with cornerback Charles Woods leaving the game with a shoulder injury. He was listed as questionable to return.
Then, in the fourth quarter, after the Raiders scored a touchdown, defensive tackle Cory Durden remained down and was being tended to by trainers. He was able to walk off on his own, going straight to the bench. A similar thing happened with outside linebacker Dre'Mont Jones a few plays before, and he was listed as questionable to return with a shoulder injury.
3. Kyle Williams gets going
After a very slow start to the season, with the majority of his contributions strictly coming on special teams, Kyle Williams got much more involved in the offense and finished as the top receiver, with a team-high 91 yards. But what made it more impressive is that he got all those on just three catches. And he found himself in the end zone, snagging a 34-yard catch to get his first of the season.
"Kyle Williams, again, I think this is something we focused on, he probably started blocking his guy a little too soon on the screen and they called him for offensive pass interference. He doesn't let that affect him," Vrabel said. "He comes back and runs an amazing route. Drake gave him a great ball."
For Williams, the touchdown could not have come at a better time.
"A confidence booster," he told reporters after the game. "Something that I really needed to just bring the joy back for me, and it's back now, so I'm happy."
He wasn't the only one, as tight end Hunter Henry also scored a touchdown for the first time this year as well.
4. Elijah Ponder can't be stopped
Every single game, Elijah Ponder continues to prove why he is an underrated edge rusher in this league. The second-year defender came into Sunday's matchup with 2.5 sacks already this season. And he added two more, managing to get to Kirk Cousins and bring him down twice. One of those included a strip-sack to end the first half.
"I'm just trying to make plays to help the team. Help the team win," Ponder said. "So whatever way I can do that, I'm excited. Blessed to have the two sacks and just got to keep rolling."
5. That's the way to start
The Patriots got off to an impressive start on both offense and defense. After winning the coin toss and electing to defer, it was Kirk Cousins and the Raiders' offense that took the field. But that was short-lived as the defense quickly forced a three-and-out. Ashton Jeanty got the first carry, taking it for four yards, and then on second down, Cousins tried to hit the running back, but he was quickly covered by cornerback Charles Woods, who nearly intercepted the pass. If Woods had brought the ball in, it likely would have resulted in a pick-six. Cousins then threw the ball on third down, but it fell incomplete.
From there, it was Maye's turn to take the field, and he made the most of it. The Patriots were quickly aided by a 24-yard spot foul after Romeo Doubs drew a defensive pass interference on Eric Stokes. On the same drive, Maye hit Doubs for a 16-yard gain before finding DeMario Douglas WIDE OPEN in the end zone for an easy score. The five-play, 79-yard drive took just over two and a half minutes. Plus, the Raiders were dealt another blow at the start of their next drive as Maxx Crosby was called for unnecessary roughness on the extra point.
6. Brock Bowers proved difficult for the Patriots defense
When it comes to defending Brock Bowers, it quickly became clear that Marcus Jones, standing at 5-foot-8, was struggling to defend the 6-foot-4 tight end. On Las Vegas' second drive of the game, Bowers had a nice 24 yard gain as well as a 13-yard touchdown over Jones.
"First off, a great player when it comes down, especially to the catch point and everything like that, strong hands," Jones told Patriots Wire. "That's the main thing: is the catch radius and the contested catches."
Bowers ended the game with a team-high 10 targets, with eight receptions for 110 yards and one touchdown. While he still played a big role, the Patriots were able to eliminate the threat in some ways by getting to Kirk Cousins early and preventing him from making the throws.
"I think when it comes down to it, it's like making it difficult for the quarterback," Jones explained. "When you make it kind of simple, it makes it easier on him and everything. But whenever we adjust and everything like that, it makes it more complicated for the quarterback."
7. Some ups and downs for Morgan Moses
The offensive tackle struggled a bit in the first quarter, giving up two penalties. The first came on third down, when Maye hit Douglas to move the sticks. But instead, they were pushed back 10 yards.
Maye then ran it on the ensuing play, taking a hard hit but gaining 10 yards. Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels kept the play calling risky, keeping the offense out of 4th down, and Maye hit Douglas again to get the first down. Just a few plays later, Morgan Moses was called for a false start following another successful fourth-down conversion. But he quickly made up for it, helping power Rhamondre Stevenson into the end zone for the five-yard touchdown.
"They bought a blitz off the edge, so I knew Maxx (Crosby) was spiking. And once I saw Rhamondre surge and had two defenders on them," Moses told Patriots Wire. "We talk about pushing the pile, and so there was an opportunity to get in there."
"I had the penalty before, so I felt like it was my job to give that effort, because I owed it to my guys, and they kept me up during it," he added. "And we got the score, so you know, scoring heals everything."
8. Adam Vinatieri receives his Hall of Fame ring
After the Patriots honored the 2001 team before the game, a very important member of that group was further honored at halftime. Kicker Adam Vinatieri was presented with his Hall of Fame ring.
And he took full advantage of his time at the microphone, speaking about the good memories, while also taking a few digs at the Raiders.
“It’s really special to be back here in New England, especially on a day like today. Seeing those Raider jerseys takes me way back,” Vinatieri said. “It takes me back to that snowy night when we beat Oakland (before winning) Super Bowl 36. Then years later, I was fortunate enough to become the all-time leading scorer. We did that in Oakland as well.”
He also joked about his former teammate Tom Brady's connection to the Raiders.
“At the time, I thought we owned the Raiders. And you know what? Thanks to Tom, we actually do,” Vinatieri joked. “I guess if you can’t beat them, join them, right?
“And now here we are again and you Raiders fans get to watch me get my Hall of Fame ring. So I’ve gotta give it to you Raiders fans, you’ve had a front row seat to a lot of cool moments in my career. I appreciate you guys always being there for the greatest ones.”
9. Other notes
- Following Rhamondre Stevenson's five-yard touchdown in the first quarter, he moved past running back LeGarrette Blount and tied WR Troy Brown on the franchise's all-time scoring list with 214 career points.
- The Patriots were faced with two fourth-and-short situations in the game, opting to go for it both times and successfully converting.
- The Patriots went with a fun trick play in the second quarter to pick up the first down on 3rd-and-11. Maye passed the ball to Chism, who then lateraled it to TreVeyon Henderson for the first down.
- Leonard Taylor III recorded a sack in the win and did the Matthew Judon celebration. It was also fitting, as he was wearing red sleeves under his jersey.
- As the Patriots offensive starters were announced, two received the loudest cheers from the crowd: Maye and Chism
- The Patriots' game-day captain was Craig Woodson.
- In honor of the Patriots honoring the '01 team, safety Craig Woodson arrived at the game in style, wearing a Ty Law throwback jersey.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 9 takeaways from Patriots' dominant 45-17 win over the Raiders
