Final Score Predictions for Raiders at Patriots NFL Week 1: Pete Carroll and Mike Vrabel meet in a battle of new head coaches

The A to Z Sports NFL staff shares score predictions for the Week 1 game between the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders.

Adam Holt, Adam Zientek, Charles Goldman, Justin Churchill, Nick Roesch
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The Las Vegas Raiders will travel to New England for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season to face the Patriots.

It’ll be a battle of new head coaches as Raiders HC Pete Carroll and Patriots HC Mike Vrabel are each in their first year with their respective teams. These aren’t rookie NFL head coaches, though. Vrabel has a 54-45 regular-season record from 2018 to 2023 with the Tennessee Titans. From 2010 to 2023 with the Seattle Seahawks, Carroll maintained a 137–89–1 during the regular season.

One of those losses came at the hands of Vrabel, who has a 1-0 head-to-head record against Carroll, having defeated the Seahawks in an overtime victory, 33-30, when Vrabel coached the Titans. Who will emerge victorious in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season? The A to Z Sports NFL staff shares predictions for the game below.

Raiders 30, Patriots 17

I really think this Raiders offense is going to be able to feast on the New England Patriots’ defense, which could end up being a pretty bad unit in 2025. Between Ashton Jeanty in the run game, setting up the deep ball, to Geno Smith feeding Brock Bowers and taking shots down the field to Dont’e Thornton Jr., this is not the same offense as last season, or even close to it. Now, the concerning area for the Raiders is their secondary, which has a ton of youth in it, especially in the CB room. That position room leaves a lot to be desired. Luckily, the Patriots don’t come off as an extreme threat to air it out all game long.

– Justin Churchill, A to Z Sports, Las Vegas Raiders

Patriots 24, Raiders 21

Mike Vrabel has already bled, and we aren’t even one week into the NFL season, and it’s a perfect vision for how he runs his football team. Pete Carroll is no slouch, and the Raiders are likely to perform better than expected this season, but the Patriots are on the rise. Drake Maye and the Patriots offense, with about 300 receivers and the ghost of Stefon Diggs’ past, are going to squeak out the win with a heavy dose of TreVeyon Henderson. Brock Bowers will become a household name this season, and he’ll have a big game along with, of course, Ashton Jeanty. It’ll be a gritty, challenging game that is close until the fourth quarter, when Maye leads his team to victory with a game-winning drive. Methodical and a little terrifying for Bills fans after their stranglehold on the division.

– Adam Zientek, A to Z Sports, Denver Broncos

Patriots 27, Raiders 17

I believe the Patriots will take the most significant step forward of all the non-playoff teams in 2024. New head coach Mike Vrabel will bring stability and a winning culture to New England, as will his improved roster. A lot is riding on the shoulders of second-year quarterback Drake Maye, but I think he’ll answer the call. As for the Raiders, they have significant question marks at every level of their defense. Star pass rusher Maxx Crosby is all they have to hang their hat on, and he can’t do it all. Las Vegas has talent on offense, but I’m not sure how often it will be enough to make a difference.

– Nick Roesch, A to Z Sports, Kansas City Chiefs

Patriots 24, Raiders 20

This is a matchup that will be gritty. Mike Vrabel and Pete Carroll to kick off the season for each team? Sounds physical before a snap has even been played. These teams have some similarities, but I’m going to give the edge to New England’s offense against an unproven secondary for Las Vegas. Love the addition of TreVeyon Henderson for Drake Maye’s game, which could really open up the entire offense in New England.

– Adam Holt, A to Z Sports, Los Angeles Chargers

Raiders 28, Patriots 24

I initially felt the Patriots had a clear advantage in this one. With news that star cornerback Christian Gonzalez will miss the game due to a hamstring injury, and rookie left tackle Will Campbell is questionable with an ankle injury, I think those two injuries could be the equalizer that the Raiders need to stay competitive in this one. Between Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty, the Las Vegas offense isn’t as devoid of talent as the receiver room might suggest. On the other hand, slowing down Drake Maye, TreVeyon Henderson, and Stefon Diggs could prove a challenge for a Raiders defense that lacks star power outside of Maxx Crosby. This one is going to come down to which defense manages a few stops, be it holding the other team to a field goal or forcing a punt.

– Charles Goldman, A to Z Sports, Kansas City Chiefs

Final verdict: Patriots start the Mike Vrabel era out with a win over the Raiders

By a 3-2 decision, the A to Z Sports NFL staff has Las Vegas falling to New England on the road. Homefield advantage for Vrabel leads to a 2-0 head-to-head record against Carroll. The reality here seems to be that the Patriots are viewed as the more complete team, whereas the Raiders have a long way to go, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Both teams seem to have some firepower on offense, in particular, with rookie RBs TreVeyon Henderson and Ashton Jeanty. But will either back run away with this one?

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