6 winners and losers as Patriots beat Raiders

The New England Patriots remained in the win column on Sunday. Facing a Las Vegas Raiders team that had lost just one of its first four games of the season and was ranked highly in various offensive and defensive categories, head coach Mike Vrabel’s team celebrated a convincing 45-17 victory to improve to 3-2 on the season.

Here’s who caught our attention, for better or worse, while watching the Week 5 contest live.

QB Drake Maye: MVP Drake Maye was back at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. The Patriots quarterback finished the game 26 of 34 for 374 yards and four touchdowns while adding a fifth score on the ground. His +0.76 EPA per drop ranks in the 100th percentile. The Raiders gave Maye and the Patriots pass catchers opportunities down the field, which is a confusing game plan against the group. He capitalized by completing 8 of 11 passes for 10 air yards for 206 yards and three touchdowns.

“Coach McDaniels was… it was wonderful,” Maye said. “It was wonderful to be a part of today. He was firing on all cylinders, making us look good, and executing.”

Kyle Williams and the WRs: The Patriots entered Sunday with just four wide receivers on the active roster with Mack Hollins and AJ Brown on injured reserve. The group stepped up, led by Kyle Williams who picked off two deep passes from Maye en route to posting a career-high 91 yards and a touchdown.

Behind Williams, another sophomore receiver, Efton Chism III, filled Hollins’ role, nicely leading the team in targets (6) and catches (5) to post a career-high 57 yards. DeMario Douglas then found the end zone twice while Romeo Doubs made his mark by drawing two defensive pass interference penalties.

OT Caleb Lomu and the offensive line: With Will Campbell leaving the game with a knee injury, rookie first-round pick Caleb Lomu took his place at left tackle. Las Vegas immediately switched Maxx Crosby to the rookie side, but Lomu held his own in his only rep against the All-Pro. The rest of the game was much the same as Lomu only allowed one live rush and finished off his defender on the ground on Maye’s rushing touchdown.

As for the rest of the line, the unit was called for five penalties, but Maye was only under pressure on 26% of his dropbacks. Las Vegas had six quarterback hits, but there were plenty of clean pockets throughout the day for Maye to operate.

“On the first touchdown to Pop, I’m back there — credit the offensive line eating a ham sandwich, so I have all day there,” Maye said.

ED Elijah Ponder and DT Milton Williams: The young Patriots rusher continued a strong start to the season, as Ponder recorded two sacks (a strip sack) and an additional quarterback hit and hurry. On one of Ponder’s sacks, the Raiders had all eyes on Milton Williams inside as the defensive lineman continues to receive plenty of extra attention this season. Still, Williams produced his best game of the season with a team-high five pressures.

Getting to Kirk Cousins ​​was a priority on Sunday, and the duo contributed to a 48% pressure rate on the Raiders’ quarterback – which included a similar percentage with a standard four-man rush.

Penalties: Speaking after the game, Mike Vrabel noted that his team still had a lot to improve and clean up. Among the points to be corrected: penalties. The Patriots were flagged 12 times Sunday for 116 yards, a “ridiculous” amount, according to Vrabel.