Las Vegas Raiders Win Season Opener Over Patriots, Marking Significant Turnaround

The Las Vegas Raiders started the 2025 NFL season with a 20-13 victory over the New England Patriots, showcasing significant improvements under the leadership of Pete Carroll, the oldest head coach in NFL history. Carroll's leadership, combined with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's strategic game planning, has revitalized the team, exemplified by quarterback Geno Smith's outstanding performance, throwing for 362 yards and a touchdown. The Raiders' offense showed early promise with a strong ground game led by rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, who scored his first career touchdown and is expected to be a key component of the team's run-heavy attack. Despite some early-season rust and mistakes, the Raiders demonstrated resilience and effective adjustments, particularly on defense, which held the Patriots scoreless in the second half. Analysts credit the offseason moves, especially the acquisition of Smith, for addressing the team's quarterback issues and boosting overall performance. The Raiders' new culture of competitiveness and improvement aims for progress throughout the season rather than immediate perfection.