The Raiders have spent a month showing everyone how much has changed.
Now comes a different kind of test.
How much stays the same after a loss?
The confidence. The aggressiveness. The belief that they can dictate how a game unfolds rather than spend three hours reacting to someone else.
All of it travels to New England on Sunday, when the Raiders get their first opportunity to show that a disappointing afternoon against the Chiefs won’t spill into the following week.
At 3-1, they have earned the right to feel encouraged about their direction. But encouragement does not move the chains, fix a struggling running game or erase the mistakes that helped turn a winnable game against Kansas City into a 30-27 loss.
Their response has to accomplish that.
And the Patriots have already provided an example of what that can look like.
New England got back on track by beating Buffalo, returning home at 2-2 with renewed confidence and an opportunity to build momentum. The Raiders will face a team that just reminded itself what it is capable of accomplishing.
That makes this an important moment for coach Klint Kubiak, whose aggressive approach helped the Raiders win their first three games and put them in position to beat the Chiefs.
The challenge is to sharpen the execution without dulling the edge.
There were opportunities against Kansas City that better blocking, cleaner decisions and stronger ball security could have turned into a different outcome. The Raiders cannot allow the frustration of missing them to make them hesitant about pursuing the next ones.
They can, however, make those situations easier on themselves.
That starts with a running game averaging 3.1 yards per carry. Against the Chiefs, the Raiders managed 43 yards on 20 attempts, leaving too much of the offensive burden on quarterback Kirk Cousins and the passing game.
Ashton Jeanty needs more room to operate. Cousins needs manageable down-and-distance situations. And Kubiak needs the freedom to call plays without repeatedly asking his offense to overcome an unproductive first down.
Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer give the Raiders answers through the air, but the offense becomes considerably more difficult to defend when opponents have to respect what happens on the ground.
Defensively, the assignment requires pressure with discipline.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye can punish a defense that gives him time, but chasing him recklessly can create escape routes and opportunities outside the structure of the play. Maxx Crosby and the defensive front need to affect the pocket while keeping Maye from turning pressure into something productive.
The Raiders also need their takeaway mentality to translate into possession-changing plays, while protecting the ball themselves.
There is room to be disappointed in the Chiefs loss and encouraged by how closely the Raiders competed.
Sunday requires something more tangible.
A clean start. Better execution. And evidence that the habits Kubiak is building can carry this team through the first difficult week of its season.
Marquee matchups
Patriots S Kevin Byard vs. Raiders TE Brock Bowers
Bowers can test a defense at every level, but this matchup could become particularly important near the goal line, where space tightens and recognition matters. The Raiders should use motion and different alignments to make it harder for Byard to anticipate where Bowers is headed. For Cousins, the challenge will be distinguishing an available throwing window from one that closes before the ball arrives. Byard won’t necessarily follow Bowers on every snap, but their paths crossing over the middle could produce some of the game’s most consequential plays. Getting Bowers involved early would force New England to account for him throughout the afternoon.
Patriots LT Will Campbell vs. Raiders DE Maxx Crosby
When Crosby lines up across from Campbell, the Patriots left tackle will face a test that extends well beyond surviving an initial pass rush. Crosby keeps working through blocks, pursues plays from behind and demands that an offensive lineman finish every snap. Campbell’s challenge is to protect Maye without allowing Crosby to dictate the quarterback’s movement or disrupt the running game before it develops. For Crosby, winning quickly would force New England to consider extra protection, potentially keeping a tight end or running back from releasing into a route. But the rush must remain controlled. Driving Maye out of the pocket only helps if the Raiders are positioned to finish the play. Pressure, containment and persistence make this matchup central to their defensive plan.
The pick: Raiders 34, Patriots 24
The Raiders respond with the same confidence that carried them through their first three games, backed by cleaner execution. Bowers and Mayer give Cousins enough answers against New England’s coverage, while the running game provides enough support to keep the offense out of predictable passing situations. The Patriots carry their momentum into a competitive second half, but Crosby helps create a critical defensive stop and the Raiders capitalize on a takeaway. A late touchdown provides separation as Las Vegas turns its first loss into a productive lesson.
Key stat: 3.1
The Raiders are averaging 3.1 yards per carry, a persistent problem that puts added pressure on Kirk Cousins and limits the offense’s flexibility.
