Patriots Enemy Profile: Las Vegas Raiders

The Patriots mounted a late-game comeback this past Sunday and fell one yard short as they lost 35-30 to the Seattle Seahawks. Defensively, the Patriots could not stop the Seahawks run game. In total, Seattle ran for 154 yards, which was not a recipe for winning. Russell Wilson threw for 288 yards for five touchdowns and also rushed for 39 yards. One bright spot in this game for the Patriots came early when Devin McCourty intercepted a tipped pass from Rusell Wilson that was run back for a touchdown.

From the first paragraph, it may seem like the Patriots did not do much right on Sunday night in Seattle. If you watched the game, there were plenty of things the Patriots did right. Cam Newton showed the whole league that his arm is better than ever. He did that by throwing for 397 yards. The offensive game plan changed this week as the Patriots only rushed for 67 yards. Julian Edelman had another huge week with eight receptions for 179 yards.

Know Your Enemy

Let’s get to know the Las Vegas Raiders and what to expect come Sunday afternoon:

The 2-0 Las Vegas Raiders travel to Foxborough on a short week. After a surprising 34-24 win against the Saints on Monday night football, the Raiders have plenty of confidence coming into the game. Derek Carr has played overall well in his time in the NFL and has quickly adjusted to his new city, Las Vegas. Joshua Jacobs has taken the pressure off of Carr as he’s become a great running back. Darren Waller will create a lot of problems for the Patriots this Sunday.  Waller is the fastest tight end in football.

Defensively, the Raiders have improved in a lot of areas. Johnathan Abram was drafted by the Raiders in 2019 and has proved he was worth that first-round pick. Clelin Ferrell’s speed off the edge will cause plenty of problems for the Patriots offensive line. Cam Newton’s Reid Option style of play will be tested on Sunday with how quickly Ferrell gets up the field. Lamarcus Joyner not only can cover your best receiver, but he can also blitz off the corners and stop the run.

–Robert Marcello is a Staff Writer for Full Press Coverage Sports Media and covers the New England Patriots. Follow him on Twitter @RobertMarcello5