Cover32: Grade Day: How’d the New England Patriots fare against the Oakland Raiders? | New England Patriots

Grade Day: How’d the New England Patriots fare against the Oakland Raiders? | New England Patriots

Sunday afternoon saw the New England Patriots take on the Oakland Raiders in Week 3, the home opener at Foxborough, MA. It was a game with all the finesse of a preseason game, as the Patriots looked like 46 guys who met for the first time that day and played a football game together. Fortunately, the Raiders were unable to take advantage of it, as their rookie quarterback Derek Carr was unable to get Oakland into the end zone.



With a 16-9 victory over one of the worst NFL teams in the league, both the offensive and defensive units had a weak showings: the offense was unable to generate and then finish drives all afternoon; the defense went 59-plus minutes before making a big play; the game was won by the special teams unit, as Stephen Gostkowski booted three field goals and was four for four on kickoffs generating touchbacks, and punter Ryan Allen and gunner Matthew Slater changed field position well. Slater even had a 26-yard kick return giving the Patriots great field position on a squib kickoff.



Now on to the score card:

Who do you believe graded out well for the Patriots in their win on Sunday?

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