Raiders vs Patriots predictions
The Las Vegas Raiders walk into Gillette Stadium with a roster that’s frankly buzzing with potential, and all eyes are likely to be on Geno Smith as he takes the reins under center. I’m expecting him to put up close to 200 yards in the air with a touchdown or so, given his steady hand and the talent he has around him. Watch for the emerging connection with tight end Brock Bowers, who’s in line for a strong day as one of Smith’s favorite targets—don’t be surprised if he racks up over 50 yards and finds the end zone. Ashton Jeanty also has the look of a go-to option on the ground, and he could flirt with the 70-yard mark if the game script goes his way, while Jakobi Meyers keeps giving opposing secondaries headaches, especially across the middle.
For the Patriots, the action all starts with their rookie signal-caller, Drake Maye. The kid’s been turning heads in camp, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him throw for just over 200 yards and a touchdown, maybe using his legs for a few big gains as well. New England’s ground attack should be a classic tandem approach—the combo of TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson splitting carries could result in each pushing close to that 40-50 yard range. Out wide, the new addition of Stefon Diggs adds some much-needed firepower. I get the feeling he’ll end up leading the way in yardage, but don’t sleep on DeMario Douglas’s ability to snag a few key catches when the Pats need them most. And let’s not forget Hunter Henry, who tends to be a safety blanket in the red zone, so he might just grab a score in a tight matchup.
When it comes down to it, this game feels like it’ll have its share of momentum swings, but the edge might just go to New England, who’s got the home crowd in Foxborough behind them and a slight bump on defense. The Patriots seem poised to pull out a close win, especially if Drake Maye can keep his cool and the defensive unit gets after Geno Smith. Both sides have weapons, sure, but the overall balance and just enough experience on the Patriots’ side could end up making the difference by the final whistle.
