A 45-17 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday offered a stark contrast to the Las Vegas Raiders' 3-0 start, prompting questions about whether the early winning streak masked the reality of a team still in the middle of a total rebuild. The defeat marked the first time this season the Raiders resembled the squad that earned the No. 1 overall draft pick a year ago.
The Raiders managed just 38 rushing yards and the secondary struggled mightily, allowing Patriots quarterback Drake Maye to throw for 374 yards and four touchdowns while adding a rushing score. On the other side, quarterback Kirk Cousins faced consistent pressure, absorbing three sacks as the offense struggled against New England's blitz packages.
Coach Klint Kubiak accepted responsibility for the performance, admitting he abandoned the run game too early. "I don't think any of us played well enough to win. It's on me to get us ready to go and we weren't ready to go," Kubiak said. He emphasized the need for internal accountability, telling players that pointing fingers makes a loser and urging the group to look inward and move forward.
The loss serves as a critical test for the team's leadership, particularly from Cousins and star edge rusher Maxx Crosby, to stabilize the locker room before a difficult stretch that includes a home game against Buffalo. Kubiak framed the moment as an opportunity to prove the team's maturity and ensure the defeat does not beat them twice.
One positive note came in the final moments when Kubiak inserted rookie quarterback and top draft pick Fernando Mendoza for the last drive. Mendoza completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards against a Patriots defense largely playing out the clock. "Just wanted to get (Mendoza) some exposure," Kubiak said. "He did a good job. All reps are valuable and very important for him."
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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