Patriots defeat Raiders 45-17 as Drake Maye throws four touchdowns
Quarterback Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to a 45-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, recording four passing touchdowns and his first 300-yard passing game of the season.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye threw four touchdown passes as the team routed the Las Vegas Raiders 45-17 on Sunday. Maye completed a career-high 300 passing yards, becoming the first player in his career to record three touchdown passes in back-to-back games.
The Patriots capitalized on the Raiders' defensive scheme, which left deep routes open down the sidelines. Combined with solid pass protection, Maye was able to connect on long throws throughout the game.
The Raiders struggled to contain the Patriots' offense, especially in the secondary. Early in the contest, tight end Brock Bowers found success against the Patriots' man coverage, catching four passes for 69 yards and a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. New England responded by adjusting to zone coverages and applying consistent pressure on quarterback Kirk Cousins, who finished 3 of 9 for 50 yards, three sacks, and a 45% completion rate under pressure.
Patriotic defensive linemen Elijah Ponder and Milton Williams contributed multiple pressures and sacks, helping to limit the Raiders' aerial attack.
Injuries affected both sides. The Patriots lost running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) and left tackle Will Campbell during a second-quarter drive and were unable to replace them. The Raiders also saw cornerback Charles Woods exit with a shoulder injury for the second consecutive week.