On Sept. 7, 2025 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Las Vegas Raiders beat the New England Patriots 20-13 in a rain-affected Week 1 matchup, paced by Geno Smith’s 362 passing yards and a late defensive stand that preserved the road victory.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Raiders 20, Patriots 13 (Week 1, Sept. 7, 2025, Gillette Stadium).
- Geno Smith threw for 362 yards and completed 70.6% of his passes.
- Rookie RB Ashton Jeanty scored his first NFL rushing touchdown (3-yard run).
- Isaiah Pola-Mao intercepted Drake Maye after pressure from Maxx Crosby.
- Daniel Carlson converted two field goals for Las Vegas; Patriots’ kicker Andrés Borregales hit a late 44-yard field goal.
- Raiders defense recorded sacks from Tyree Wilson and Malcolm Koonce and ended four Patriots drives with punts in the second half.
- Las Vegas snapped an 11-game streak of losses when trailing at halftime.
Verified Facts
The Raiders opened the game with a quick, efficient drive highlighted by a 23-yard pass from Geno Smith to tight end Brock Bowers and a 26-yard touchdown catch by Tre Tucker that gave Las Vegas an early 7-0 lead. Smith finished the game with 362 passing yards and a 70.6% completion rate.
New England responded with a methodical 77-yard drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown from quarterback Drake Maye to wide receiver DeMario Douglas, tying the score 7-7 entering the second quarter. Before halftime, Patriots kicker Andrés Borregales made a 39-yard field goal after missing a 40-yard attempt on an earlier possession.
The second half swung in Las Vegas’s favor when Maxx Crosby pressured Maye, leading to a floated pass that safety Isaiah Pola-Mao intercepted. The Raiders converted that turnover into a rushing touchdown by rookie Ashton Jeanty, his first career rushing score.
Las Vegas extended the lead with two Daniel Carlson field goals in the second half, while the Raiders defense generated pressure and sacks from Tyree Wilson and Malcolm Koonce. New England’s only second-half points came on a 44-yard field goal by Borregales with 22 seconds left, setting the final at 20-13.
Context & Impact
Friday’s result gives the Raiders an opening-week win under head coach Pete Carroll and immediate momentum before a Week 2 Monday Night Football home game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The defensive performance in the second half—highlighted by the turnover and multiple sacks—will be a focus for Carroll’s staff heading into the short week.
For the Patriots, the late-game offensive struggles and the inability to convert four second-half drives into points exposed issues in sustaining drives against a physical front. New England will need to tighten protection and red-zone execution as the season opens.
- Las Vegas: offense showed big-play ability through the air, plus a decisive short-yardage rushing TD.
- New England: long drives produced points early, but second-half punts and the turnover stalled any comeback.
“I know who I am. I know what I can do,”
Geno Smith
Unconfirmed
- Reports elsewhere note Geno Smith set a long-standing franchise debut passing record; that specific record claim has not been independently confirmed within official box scores cited here.
- Some summaries referenced a 103-yard receiving performance by Brock Bowers; that figure appears in highlight reels but should be verified against the official stat sheet.
Bottom Line
The Raiders escaped Foxborough with a 20-13 win thanks to Geno Smith’s passing, a timely interception by Isaiah Pola-Mao following pressure from Maxx Crosby, and steady kicking from Daniel Carlson. Las Vegas breaks an 11-game halftime deficit skid and now turns its focus to a Week 2 Monday Night matchup with the Chargers.