This Week 6 preview comes off the Raiders’ first win since Week 1 of the regular season. If they manage to get a win this week, that’ll make for their first winning streak since they won 3 in a row between weeks 11-13 in 2022. It won’t be easy though when Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots come into Allegiant Stadium for a rematch of last season.
Raiders Week 6 Preview vs. Patriots
Last season, the Raiders defeated the Patriots in remarkable fashion. It may have been the most hilarious mishap of all time. It also marked the first time the Raiders had beaten the Patriots since 2002.
Coming into this Week 6 preview, both teams this season have featured absolutely anemic offenses. Both have heavily struggled to reach the 20-point mark in any game. The Patriots also just got destroyed in back-to-back weeks a combined 72-3 in their last two games against the Cowboys and Saints. The Saints gave Bill Belichick his worst home shutout loss of his career, even dating back to his days as the Browns head coach in the early 90s.
The Raiders meanwhile are the only team in the NFL since 2010 to win a single game despite starting off their first 5 games without reaching 20 points. These are 2 of the worst-scoring offenses in recent memory. The Patriots offense comes into this week 6 preview averaging 11 points per game. The Raiders offense comes in averaging 15.8 points per game. If you’re hoping for an explosive shootout between 2 high-powered offenses, this isn’t the game to tune into.
Raiders WR Devante Adams (17) – John Locher/AP Photo
This is also a funny matchup because the Raiders have been constructed in the “Patriot Way.” There are a number of key Patriot figures and players now entrenched in the Raider organization such as wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, general manager Dave Ziegler, and head coach Josh McDaniels. Even former Patriot Tom Brady is trying to get in on the action on the “Las Vegas Patriots” as fans have jokingly nicknamed them.
The Raiders sit at 2-3 and in 3rd place in the AFC West. The Patriots are 1-4 and at the bottom of the AFC East.
Let’s look at this Week 6 preview of the stoppable force against the movable object.
Matchups to Watch:
Mac Jones vs. Jimmy Garoppolo
Raiders Defensive Tackle Bilal Nichols (91) – Chris Unger/Getty Images
The failed heir apparent against the discarded apprentice is getting a feature in this Week 6 preview. At one time, Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo appeared to be the one who would take the mantle of starting quarterback of the New England Patriots from Tom Brady. Instead, he was cast aside to San Francisco in a controversial trade that ended up fracturing the relationship between Brady and Belichick.
Mac Jones was drafted in the first round after New England parted ways with Brady. Despite a Pro Bowl season and a playoff run in his first season with Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels as his offensive coordinator, he has struggled heavily. Jones has been criticized as a dirty player, with numerous offenses. He’s also thrown extreme tantrums on the sidelines towards coaches. None of it has resulted in a lot of success for the young quarterback.
Jimmy Garoppolo comes into this matchup leading the entire NFL with 7 interceptions. He’s been a turnover machine, to say the least. He did his best job spreading the football around on Monday against the Packers, and also only limited himself to 1 interception. This helped the Raiders tremendously in their 17-13 win.
Looking at this Week 6 preview, it’s a battle of mid against mid. But the storyline is what is most intriguing. Which failed apprentice will emerge as the winner and lead their team to glory?
Josh McDaniels vs. Bill Belichick
A Week 6 preview involving the battle between the master and the apprentice. In this case, however, if you’re a Star Wars fan, it feels more like seeing a stormtrooper against Emperor Sideous. That’s because while Josh McDaniels might have been Bill Belichick’s offensive coordinator in New England, he along with pretty much every other coach to come out of New England has failed to be even 1% as successful as “The Hoodie.”
The one thing that McDaniels has going for him is that he is currently 2-0 against his former mentor. Belichick is 18-20 all-time against former assistants or former players of his who became NFL head coaches. He’s struggled a lot in recent years against them as well.
McDaniels however has struggled a lot this season. His in-game decision-making has cost the Raiders on many occasions and has forced them to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Looking at this Week 6 preview, we all know obviously that Bill Belichick is the better coach. He’s arguably the greatest of all time alongside coaches like Don Shula, Vince Lombardi, and the great John Madden. But can lightning strike for a 3rd time with Josh McDaniels on Sunday afternoon?
Maxx Crosby vs. Patriots O-Line
It’s time once again for “Mad Maxx” to feast. He had another amazing game on Monday Night Football against the Packers, and I fully expect him to dominate against the Patriots.
This game comes with a bit of familiarity too. Patriots left tackle Trent Brown is very well known to Raiders fans. He had an extremely dramatic and tumultuous tenure with the Raiders, to say the least, and his exit was much applauded by Raider Nation. Even after Brown was gone, he decided to take shots through the media at the Raiders.
Former Raiders RT Trent Brown (71) – Ethan Miller/Getty Images
If the Raider Nation is good at anything other than fighting, it’s keeping a long memory and holding grudges. Nothing would make them happier than seeing Crosby make Brown look foolish on Sunday and get to Mac Jones. The Patriots offensive line has struggled all season long. Jones hasn’t helped matters by playing poorly, but the offensive line has had holes all season long.
One of the Patriots’ best players and leaders on their entire team is center Mark Andrews. Crosby has been incorporating a lot more “A Gap” blitzes into his arsenal where he will start on his normal position on the edge and then use his insane athleticism to rush inside and blitz through the middle of the line. That could potentially be something to watch for on Sunday, especially since the Patriots’ interior line has dealt with some injuries as well.
Crosby is the Raiders’ best defensive player and is one of the best defensive players in all of football. If he gets going on Sunday, it’s going to be a long day for the Patriots.
Prediction:
Coming off the heels of a 17-13 win on Monday Night Football and lining up against the team model that inspired this roster’s construction, I expect the Raiders to come out hot. In this Week 6 preview, I expect a close battle between two offenses that haven’t been able to get going. For the first time in over 20 years, I can say I trust that the Raiders’ defense will be able to hold the battle close between the two teams.
The Patriots’ defense is going to be missing key players like rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez amongst many others. At the same time, I don’t expect the Raiders offense to really explode this game. I expect a similar performance to what we saw on Monday. Jimmy G did a better job spreading around the football and I expect more of the same here. If he can limit himself to one interception, the Raiders have a good chance.
The Patriots have been outscored greatly in each of their last two games. I don’t expect more of the same here, but I expect a Raiders victory nonetheless in this Week 6 preview.
