The New England Patriots rolled into Gillette Stadium on Sunday severely shorthanded, missing starters on both sides of the ball, and still absolutely crushed the Las Vegas Raiders 45-17. It was their third win of the season, and if you weren’t paying attention before, you gotta now, because some seriously exciting stuff is brewing.
Maye Is Dealing, Ponder Is a Problem
Let’s talk about Drake Maye, because holy cow. He started this season looking rough, no sugarcoating it. But it feels like that Bills game was the spark, just like last year, and against the Raiders, he was straight-up impressive. We’re talking gorgeous throws, making off-schedule plays look easy, and, honestly, just making great decisions all game long. This is the Drake Maye we know, the one we’re used to seeing. If he keeps playing like this, the Patriots are going to be in every single game this season. That’s a game-changer, plain and simple.
And then there’s Elijah Ponder. Undrafted out of Cal Poly last year, and man, the Patriots found a gem. This outside linebacker is already sitting at 4.5 sacks this season! Against the Raiders, he almost gave his team a field goal when he strip-sacked Kirk Cousins right before halftime. This dude has been a demon since midway through last season, and he just keeps getting better. If Ponder continues this growth, the Patriots might have a defensive force for years to come, a real long-term replacement for Harold Landry on the edge. That’s huge for the defense.
Stevenson Steps Up, Injuries Loom
Even with all the excitement, the injury bug is still biting. The Patriots were already short-handed coming into Sunday, and they lost more key guys during the game. Will Campbell went down with a knee injury, reportedly a sprain on the same knee where he tore his MCL last season, and he’s expected to “miss some time.” TreVeyon Henderson picked up an ankle injury, and Dre’Mont Jones and Cory Durden were both banged up too. With depth already being tested, losing more guys is definitely a problem.
But amidst that, Rhamondre Stevenson showed up big. His final stats,64 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries,might not jump off the page, but he ran the ball incredibly well. His wiggle is legit, he was constantly breaking the first tackle, picking up extra yards, and he forced five missed tackles on Sunday. With Henderson now dealing with an injury, Stevenson being so solid is even more critical. Being able to run the football is key, and having a back who can not only run it hard but also be effective catching out of the backfield? That’s huge for their offense moving forward. Oh, and Caleb Lomu, the offensive tackle they traded up for in the first round? He’s been a reserve behind Will Campbell and Morgan Moses all season, but he did step in for Moses a few weeks ago, so he’s getting some reps, which is good.
What does it all mean? Well, if Maye stays hot and Ponder keeps dominating, this Patriots team is going to be a tough out for anyone. The immediate concern is how those injuries will shake out, but the way they cruised to a 45-17 win, even shorthanded, tells you something special might be brewing here. Keep an eye on that offense and defense as we move further into the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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