Patriots rout Raiders 45-17; Fernando Mendoza makes NFL debut
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Oct. 11, 2026 — The New England Patriots overwhelmed the Las Vegas Raiders, 45-17, at Gillette Stadium. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed nearly 77% of his passes for 374 yards and five total touchdowns as New England totaled 536 yards. Las Vegas surrendered three sacks of Kirk Cousins and committed eight penalties for 101 yards, undoing a strong start to the season.
New England opened with a 35-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open DeMario Douglas after a Raiders three-and-out. Kirk Cousins answered with a three-play, 53-yard drive capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Brock Bowers. Bowers finished with eight catches for 110 yards and his 15th career touchdown in the first quarter, tying him for third among tight ends who entered the league in 2024.
Las Vegas’ defense, which entered the game leading the league in takeaways, produced its 10th takeaway when Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler stripped the ball from Corey Kiner and Darien Porter recovered. The Raiders failed to capitalize when Matt Gay missed a 49-yard field goal that struck the upright, his first miss of the season. New England converted two fourth-down attempts on an 11-play drive that lasted nearly seven minutes, and Rhamondre Stevenson scored on a five-yard run to regain the lead.
Maye continued to drive New England in the second half, connecting on a 34-yard touchdown to Kyle Williams and later scoring on a three-yard run after beating Jeremy Chinn with a stutter step on third down. The Patriots finished with 165 rushing yards, with four different ballcarriers gaining at least 20 yards. Maye finished with 374 passing yards and five total touchdowns.
Ashton Jeanty was held to a season-low 27 rushing yards, his third game this season with an average below three yards per carry. The Raiders had allowed 134.5 rushing yards per game entering the contest and surrendered 165 on Sunday, contributing to extended Patriots possessions. Maxx Crosby said the Patriots stayed ahead of the sticks and made big plays in key moments; Crosby was limited to one tackle and two quarterback hits.
Late in the fourth quarter Dylan Laube scored his first NFL touchdown after receiving added reps with Jeanty banged up. The Raiders inserted the 2026 No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza on the final offensive series, and he completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards while extending plays with his mobility. Mendoza nearly converted on fourth down with a three-yard scramble and called the regular-season snaps good experience to evaluate and get better from.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said the team must identify what went wrong and fix it quickly. He added that the Raiders are not happy with the result and must move on. Las Vegas returns home for two games against the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams and will try to prevent this loss from becoming a trend.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Raiders’ loss highlighted breakdowns in protection and discipline — three sacks allowed and eight penalties — and a stalled running game that kept New England on the field. Defensive lapses allowed sustained drives and 536 total yards despite the team’s takeaway production. Fernando Mendoza’s 6-for-8 debut provided a developmental glimpse, but it represents a small sample in a loss that requires immediate correction. Las Vegas must shore up its offensive line, reduce self-inflicted errors and reestablish the run before facing the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams at home.