NFL 2025 Raiders-Patriots Week 1 Preview And Picks

The first Sunday of the NFL 2025 season kicks off Sept. 7, and my Las Vegas Raiders coverage includes the Raiders-Patriots Week 1 preview. I’ll include select picks with additional stats, insight, team news and information you can bet on.

You can follow various sites for Raiders news beyond betting including Silver and Black Pride along Raiders.com with other sources including my friend and colleague JT The Brick, the Raiders pre and post game host, analyst and national/Las Vegas radio voice.

Another colleague I correspond with is Case Keefer of the Las Vegas Sun, who covers the Raiders and other Las Vegas sports teams. As a columnist and reporter, Case is also a sharp handicapper who provides weekly betting picks including Raiders-Patriots Week 1 and all games in Vegas Pick ’em Week 1.

Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots

Spread: Patriots (-2.5), Game total 44
Pick: Raiders

Each week’s Raiders roundup and picks/opinions are separate, unless mentioned otherwise. I did include the Raiders as a Week 8 underdog pick last year when they lost but covered ATS at Kansas City during a historically bad 4-win season in which the Raiders running game continuing to be among the worst in the NFL.

Now the addition of top draft pick RB Ashton Jeanty, improved offensive line, experienced and proven head coach (Pete Carroll) and offensive coordinator (Chip Kelly) with a more capable QB Geno Smith in trade, and the Raiders will be much improved this season with better personnel and coaching. Defense has some questions in the backend. Smith passed for 327 yards against the Patriots last season while playing for Seattle, but a more balanced attack figures to lead the Raiders and calling for a Week 1 win.

Both teams are off very disappointing 4-win seasons, and the Patriots are favored in a game for the first time since the 2023 season. West to East travel and early kickoff aside, Vegas has some edges and matchups to watch, including top TE Brock Bowers use as last year’s Pro Bowl TE as a rookie. The kicking, punting and special teams favor Las Vegas. The Patriots lean on their young QB Drake Maye to make more plays against the unproven Raiders secondary, but also should have an improved running game with Rhamondre Stevenson returning and new top pick RB TreVeyon Henderson. Last year’s Raiders were -16 in turnover differential, and that area will be cleaned up and much improved as well.