Las Vegas Raiders @ New England Patriots Prediction & Preview

The New England Patriots return to Gillette Stadium on Sunday, October 11, looking to build on their impressive road victory over the Buffalo Bills when they host the Las Vegas Raiders at 1 p.m. ET.

New England will be aiming to avenge last season’s 20-13 defeat to Las Vegas in the 2025 season opener, while also ending a three-game losing streak against the Raiders. With the Patriots wearing their throwback uniforms and celebrating the 25th anniversary of their first Super Bowl championship, there will be plenty of storylines to follow.

Patriots to Wear Throwbacks as 2001 Super Bowl Team Returns

The Patriots will wear their iconic red throwback jerseys, white pants and white helmets featuring the Pat Patriot logo for the first time this season. The uniforms, based on the design worn between 1984 and 1992, have a strong connection to the franchise’s history.

New England holds a 7-5 record when wearing these throwbacks at home and will wear them again against the Minnesota Vikings on December 10.

The game will also feature a celebration of the 2001 Super Bowl championship team, marking the 25th anniversary of the season that launched the Patriots dynasty.

Pro Football Hall of Fame kicker Adam Vinatieri will return to receive his Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence during halftime. Vinatieri famously kicked a 45-yard field goal in the snow to force overtime against the Raiders in the 2001 AFC Divisional Playoffs before winning the game with a 23-yard kick. He then secured New England’s first Super Bowl title with a last-second 48-yard field goal against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Members of the championship-winning team will also be honoured during a special pregame ceremony.

Patriots Look to End Losing Streak Against Las Vegas

Despite holding an 18-17-1 advantage in the regular-season series, the Patriots have struggled against the Raiders in recent years.

New England has lost each of its last three meetings with Las Vegas, including defeats on the road in 2022 and 2023 and last season’s 20-13 loss at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders’ victory in Foxborough last September was their first at the stadium in four attempts.

The Patriots’ most recent win in the series came in September 2020, when they claimed a 36-20 victory at Gillette Stadium.

The teams have also produced several memorable playoff encounters. The Patriots lost a controversial divisional playoff meeting in Oakland following the 1976 regular season, defeated the Raiders in Los Angeles during their run to Super Bowl XX in 1985, and beat Oakland in overtime in the famous 2001 “Tuck Rule” game.

A victory on Sunday would not only improve New England’s home record but also end its recent run of defeats against one of the franchise’s historic AFL rivals.

Patriots Offense Looks to Build on Buffalo Performance

The Patriots offense produced a season-high 405 total yards and 26 first downs in last week’s win over Buffalo. Another performance of at least 400 yards and 20 first downs would mark the first time New England has achieved both figures in consecutive games since the end of the 2025 season.

The Patriots will also be looking to secure their second home victory of the season after defeating Pittsburgh 20-3 in their home opener on September 20. A win over Las Vegas would give New England its first 2-0 start at home since 2020.

Quarterback Drake Maye will be central to those ambitions after throwing three touchdown passes against Buffalo. Another three-touchdown performance would give him consecutive games with at least three passing touchdowns, a feat last achieved by a Patriots quarterback when Tom Brady did so in 2018.

Wide receiver Romeo Doubs is another player to watch. After recording two touchdown receptions against the Bills, Doubs will look to repeat that performance against Las Vegas. Doing so would make him the first Patriots player since Rob Gronkowski in 2012 to record at least two receiving touchdowns in consecutive games.

Players to Watch 

Hunter Henry – Tight End

Henry enters Week 5 with 3,106 receiving yards as a Patriot. He needs 52 yards against Las Vegas to move past Russ Francis into third place on New England’s all-time receiving yards list among tight ends. Henry also has 26 touchdown receptions for the franchise and is two away from matching Francis for third on the team’s all-time list.

Rhamondre Stevenson – Running Back

Stevenson is tied with BenJarvus Green-Ellis for eighth place on the Patriots’ all-time rushing touchdown list with 29. One more rushing touchdown would make him the latest New England running back to reach 30 career scores. He also needs two receptions to reach 200 career catches with the Patriots.

Romeo Doubs – Wide Receiver

Doubs enjoyed a productive outing in Buffalo, catching two touchdown passes. Another two-touchdown performance would give him consecutive games with multiple receiving scores and provide a major boost to the Patriots’ passing attack.

Drake Maye – Quarterback

Maye threw three touchdown passes against the Bills and will look to maintain that momentum. Another three-touchdown game would put him in the company of Tom Brady as the most recent Patriots quarterbacks to achieve the feat in consecutive games.

Elijah Ponder – Linebacker

Ponder has recorded at least half a sack in three consecutive games. One more would make him the first Patriots player since Josh Uche in 2022 to record a sack or half-sack in four straight contests.

Erick Hunter – Linebacker and Special Teams

Rookie Erick Hunter recorded a career-high four special teams tackles against Buffalo. Three or more against Las Vegas would give him consecutive games with at least three special teams tackles, highlighting his growing importance to New England’s special teams unit.

Can New England Keep the Momentum Going?

The Patriots head into Week 5 with an opportunity to turn an important road victory into sustained progress. Maye and the offense will aim to maintain their production, while the defence will look to continue applying pressure after Ponder’s recent run of sacks.

With the return of the 2001 championship team, Vinatieri’s Hall of Fame recognition and the debut of the throwback uniforms, Sunday’s game will also provide a celebration of the franchise’s history.

However, the immediate priority remains on the field. Beating Las Vegas would end the Patriots’ three-game losing streak in the series, secure a second home win of the season and provide another positive step in New England’s campaign.

Score Prediction: Patriots 27, Raiders 20

Coming off an impressive win over Buffalo, the Patriots have the momentum to secure another home victory. Drake Maye should continue to lead the offence, while New England’s defence will do enough to keep the Raiders at arm’s length. Expect a competitive contest, with the Patriots pulling away late to end their three-game losing streak against Las Vegas.

Kick-off: Sunday, October 11, at 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Broadcast: CBS / WBZ, with radio coverage on 98.5 The Sports Hub