Matt Hylen's Patriots Preview: Week 1 vs Raiders
- Matt Hylen
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
The NFL season is finally here. After over 200 days of offseason time, the New England Patriots will finally take the field for their first regular-season game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The team is new and improved all around, with new players and coaches alike filling the locker room. The hope is back in New England, as we truly do not know how the Patriots will do this year. They are a young team with a lot of talent, but are they there yet? Or are they still a little ways away?
Regardless, New England has a great test against the Raiders to start the year off. Though Vegas is not a team with wild expectations, they can still be a problem for any team. This game will not be easy for the Pats, so with that said, let's get into what Sunday will look like.
Injury Report
Highlighting the injury report for the Patriots is, without a doubt their best player, Christian Gonzalez. Gonzalez has been battling a hamstring issue that will keep him out of the Week 1 contest against Vegas, with the possibility of more in the short term. In terms of the rest of the team, here is the official injury report from the New England Patriots' official website as of Saturday, September 6th at 2pm EST:
LT Will Campbell (ankle): Limited participant Friday, status questionable
CB Charles Woods (Concussion/Groin): Full participant Friday, status questionable
DT Christian Baramore (Not Injury Related): Limited Participant Friday, status unspecified
WR Efton Chism III (Knee): Full participant Friday, status unspecified
If I were to guess, all four of these players will play on Sunday. Campbell and Chism practicing in full on Friday is extremely promising, while the media has not been told that Baramore and Woods will miss Sunday's game.
On the other side of things, there are no real injury concerns for the Raiders. The only two players on their injury report are Cornerback Kyu Kelly (hamstring) and Quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring).
Keys to the Game
I think the biggest key to the game for New England is getting the new additions going. All four notable additions the Pats made this offseason will have significant roles right away and will be crucial in the trenches. If the Patriots are to play the style of football they want to, it starts with these four filling the holes the team had in 2024.
Another key to success in my mind is getting rookie Running Back TreVeyon Henderson involved early and often. Henderson is such an explosive player who can make anything out of nothing. It is the kind of talent that I do not remember the Patriots ever having before, at least not this century. Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels needs to implement multiple different looks that can get Henderson the ball. Whether it be in the screen game or designed runs, if the Pats want to win this game, get TreVeyon the ball!
Lastly, Drake Maye. Maye needs to set the tone early and get his team a lead early. There has been so much hype and so many comparisons built for this young quarterback, so he needs to show that the hype is warranted and he is legit. Does that mean Maye needs to throw for 250+ yards and 3+ TDs? No. All Maye needs to do is keep the ball moving and execute in the red zone. Do not force throws, keep the mistakes to a minimum, and know when to run and when to throw. Easier said than done of course, but I am looking for Maye to be more methodical than flashy this week.
Who Wins?
I think the Pats get it done this week. New England has something to prove this year, and a team with a chip on their shoulder is a dangerous one. I think Vegas will put up a good fight, making it close throughout the entire game. However, it will be Maye who will lead this team the way he needs to in order to get the job done.
This game will be no shootout in my mind, but that is not surprising for two teams with brand new coaching staffs and offenses. With that said, I believe Pats' new head coach Mike Vrabel will outcoach the Raiders' new skipper Pete Carroll and beat him in the trenches.
Final Score Prediction: Patriots win 24-13
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Catch ya next time!
-Matt Hylen