What to Watch For: New England Patriots Defense vs. Las Vegas Raiders Offense | Week 5 2026

The autumn wind has brought the Raiders to Foxboro.

On Sunday afternoon, the New England Patriots (2-2) return home to welcome the Las Vegas Raiders (3-1) to Gillette Stadium, as two teams that experienced a reversal of fortune in Week 4 will square-off in New England’s first “throwback” game of the 2026 regular season. For the Patriots, they enter Sunday on the heels of a thrilling upset victory over the Buffalo Bills to draw within one game of the lead in the race for the AFC East. 

Las Vegas, on the other hand, may have been swaggering boisterously through the first three weeks of the regular season, but they’ll be blustering in from sea fresh off of their first loss of the fall. Still, an offense that features several high-profile talents and is tied for the league-lead in touchdown passes will pose as a villain that’s big and bold when they line up across from the New England defense.

Here’s what we’ll be watching for when the Patriots’ defense takes the field against the Raiders’ offense:

Kirk Cousins looks to be having a resurgent start to the 2025 season in his first four games with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Engineering head coach Klint Kubiak’s offense that gave the home team trouble as the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, the 15-year veteran has completed 93-of-144 passing attempts (64.6% completion percentage) with 1,026 passing yards (7.1 yards per attempt), 11 touchdown passes (tied for the league-lead), four interceptions, and a passer rating of 99.5. Cousins' 48.3% passing success rate is his best mark since 2020, and if upheld through the end of the year, his 7.6% touchdown percentage would rank as a career-high mark.

But that’s far more likely to regress to the mean as Cousins faces-off against more capable defenses — and that begins this week. 

Context matters when dissecting Cousins’ hot start to the 2026 regular season. The Raiders’ wins have come against the lowly Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, and New Orleans Saints — teams that have struggled to keep from losing, rather than winning. Against a formidable opponent in the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend, Cousins did well to keep pace throughout with his best statistical output of the season (31-of-52, 365 yards, two touchdowns, one interception), but his season-low passer rating of 85.8 began to reveal the cracks on a much grander stage.

Through four weeks, the highlights have been there for Cousins, but he’s been exactly what he was hired to be: a game manager. Cousins’ 9.0-yard Average Depth of Target (ADoT) and 7.1 yards per attempt may paint the picture of a quarterback willing to push the ball downfield, but most of the offense has been run through the short-to-intermediate areas of the field. His 2.6% big-time throw rate ranks fourth-lowest among qualifying quarterbacks (per PFF), and his 2.0% scramble rate ranks third-lowest in the NFL (per SūmerSports). 

That sets New England up for a similar approach to gameplanning as Weeks 1 and 2, when they dialed up blitzes on 41.1% of quarterback dropbacks (fifth) and generated pressure at a 46.6% clip (fourth). Without the help of an elite perimeter threat to take the top off of the defense, that same ideology could return this weekend, but they’ll need to be prepared with a counter if Cousins is able to distribute the ball quicker than the rush can arrive.

Slowing Las Vegas’ offense begins with controlling the line of scrimmage and attacking a stationary quarterback in the pocket — but that may be easier said than done. 

The Raiders have been leaky in pass protection — registering the 11th-highest pressure rate in the NFL (41.4%) while only being blitzed on 25.0% of snaps (27th-most in the league), but Cousins has been excellent at avoiding negative plays, even without extending them. On the year, Cousins has only been sacked five times; his 3.3% sack rate ranks third-lowest in the league, as does his 9.3% pressure-to-sack rate.

Bringing the heat at Cousins comes with some risk, but it may also yield great results. When kept clean, Cousins has registered a passer rating of 115.5, and when not blitzed, that mark is 106.3. When Cousins has been under pressure, he’s completed 23-of-48 attempts with 332 yards passing, two touchdowns, two interceptions, five sacks, and a passer rating of 67.4. Three of his four turnover-worthy plays have come when he’s been under pressure.

None of Cousins’ five sacks taken have come when defenses have blitzed, but they’ve still been effective in reducing his efficiency. When blitzed, Cousins has completed 27-of-44 attempts with 285 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 84.0, while his yards per attempt drops to a low-mark of 6.5. 

Applying pressure will be a major piece of the Patriots’ defensive plan this weekend, and will pay dividends on multiple fronts. They’ll need to get home, but in doing so, they can force the veteran quarterback into mistakes, keep him from pushing the ball downfield, and eliminate the threat of a run game in support of the passing attack.

Las Vegas running back Ashton Jeanty has been a household name since being drafted sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, but has yet to find solid ground on a weekly basis.

In his rookie season, Jeanty carried the ball 266 times for 975 yards (3.7 yards per attempt) and five touchdowns while adding 55 receptions for 346 receiving yards and five touchdowns as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. The dual-threat has returned for 2026 as an equally impressive receiver, but his lack of success as a rusher has also carried over. Through four games, he’s carried the ball 78 times for 264 yards (3.4 yards per attempt), but ranks second on the team in receptions (19) and fourth in receiving yards (165). He’s also tied for second on the Raiders in targets (24) and receiving touchdowns (two), but has yet to find the end zone on the ground.

More of an indictment on Las Vegas’ offensive line than Jeanty himself, the Raiders spent big in the offseason to acquire center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency as an upgrade along the interior. Thus far, he’s lived up to the billing (66.6 offensive grade, ninth of 33 centers, per PFF), but the four that flank him have not.

The Raiders currently rank 31st in the NFL in EPA/rush (-0.24) and dead-last in rushing success rate (31.1%), yards per carry (3.13), stuffed runs (37), and stuffed run rate (31.9%). The next closest team in stuffed run rate — the Green Bay Packers — trails Las Vegas by over five percentage points (26.0), followed by New England (24.8%). They’ve only gained 73 yards before contact (29th) on the season. 

In short, the Raiders have not been very good at establishing the run. And while Jeanty is a threat to break an explosive play at any point, that’s far more likely to come as a receiver out of the backfield than as a runner between the tackles.

The Patriots may have a struggling run-defense — 21st in yards per carry allowed (4.38), 29th in EPA/rush (+0.03), 17th in rushing success rate against (43.2%), and last in stuffed run rate (11.2%) — but this could be the foundation of a “get-right” game for a unit that excelled at limiting the impact of opposing rushers through the first half of the 2025 season.

If not, they may be in for a long day against Jeanty — provided he's in action. Jeanty's status is questionable after being added to the list with an “ankle/foot injury." He was a full participant on Wednesday, limited participant on Thursday, and did not participate on Friday. A potential massive loss for Las Vegas, although not yet confirmed. He'll be making the trip to Foxboro and will be a game-time decision.

Rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. (picked in the fourth round, No. 122 overall) would be next in line for the Raiders if Jeanty is unable to give it a go. He's carried the ball 24 times for 120 yards (5.0 yards per carry) and scored one touchdown in his first four games, but is coming off of a nine carry, 18-yard outing against Kansas City.

Las Vegas’ lack of success running the football hasn’t been for lack of trying — and it’s been the basis they’ve built their passing attack around.

Using 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) at the third-highest rate in the NFL (36.2%), the Raiders have funneled much of their production in the air through Jeanty and tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.

Bowers is Las Vegas’ most dangerous threat in the passing game, and has been since being drafted 13th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, he was targeted 153 times, caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards, and scored five touchdowns. In just 12 games last year, he was still targeted 86 times, caught 64 passes for 680 yards, and scored seven touchdowns. Bowers recorded five receptions for 103 receiving yards at Gillette Stadium last year.

The former Georgia Bulldog missed the first two games of 2026 due to a knee injury (and started the week as a limited participant in practice because of it), but in two games, already leads the team with 25 targets. He’s recorded 16 receptions, ranks second on the Raiders’ offense in receiving yards (202), and has scored two touchdowns since returning to the lineup in Week 3. 

Las Vegas’ second tight end, Mayer, currently leads the team with 20 receptions, is tied with Jeanty for second in targets (24), and ranks third in receiving yards (169). Once a highly-touted prospect for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Mayer was originally drafted in the second-round (No. 35 overall) by the Raiders, and is well on-pace to eclipse the career-best marks he set in 2025, when he recorded 35 receptions on 50 targets and 328 receiving yards.

Last year, defending tight ends was a weak-point for New England’s defense, surrendering 97 receptions, 971 receiving yards, and six touchdowns to the position during the regular season. Against a Buffalo team that heavily featured tight ends in their offense omitted Week 4, that concern looked to be eased, as the Patriots allowed a combined three receptions and 20 receiving yards to Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid in Orchard Park.

On the perimeter, the Raiders turn to wide receiver Tre Tucker more than any other contributor at the position. Tucker’s 233 receiving yards are a team-high, while he ranks fourth in targets (23) and receptions (15). He’s scored one touchdown on the season.

Las Vegas uses a committee of other receivers when not targeting Tucker. Cody White leads the team with three touchdown receptions, but has only caught five passes (on 10 targets) — tied for the fifth-highest mark on the team behind Tucker. Free agent addition Jalen Nailor (concussion) has been targeted 11 times with five receptions and 52 yards, while 2025 second-round pick Jack Bech (No. 58 overall) was much more efficient before being sidelined with a fractured arm in Week 3. His five receptions came on six targets, and he registered 48 yards and one touchdown before the injury. 

Even shorthanded, the Patriots’ secondary — ranked fifth overall in EPA/pass (-0.06) and fourth in passing success rate against (38.8%) — should be able to withstand any sort of surge from the Raiders’ wide receivers on Sunday. Defeating them through the air will come with a singular focus on shutting down the tight ends and containing Jeanty — which they just showcased the ability to do last week against the Bills. This should be a favorable matchup for New England on the defensive side of the football.

The Patriots will be extremely thin in the secondary when Sunday’s contest against the Raiders kicks off.

New England has already ruled out their top two cornerbacks, Christian Gonzalez (shoulder) and Carlton Davis (neck), along with Karon Prunty (hamstring) and Channing Canada (hamstring). Gonzalez and Canada will be missing their second consecutive games with injuries suffered prior to the win in Buffalo, while Davis has continued to work through a neck injury first sustained in the season opener. He had previously missed Week 2, but had been active for every other contest. 

That leaves the Patriots with two cornerbacks on the active roster: Marcus Jones and Charles Woods — and Woods (shoulder) is also listed as questionable for Sunday. They’ll likely be making practice squad elevations to fill in the gaps, with Kindle Vildor (called up last week against the Bills) and the newly signed Al’zillion Hamilton their other options in the building. Expect to see a much higher percentage of three safety, or “big nickel” packages from defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr to compensate. Last week’s second practice squad elevation, veteran safety Mike Brown, has been signed to the 53-man roster and should work his way into the game plan yet again. 

While the situation may look dire on New England’s side, this isn’t the worst week to have a thinning cornerback depth chart, as Las Vegas is also working their way through a mass of injuries sustained at wide receiver. They’ll be without Jack Bech (fractured forearm), Jalen Nailor (concussion), and have yet to see 2025 standout Dont’e Thornton take the field this season after the second-year pro suffered a hamstring injury in August.

Elsewhere, the Patriots have listed the Christian Barmore (shoulder), Christian Elliss (chest), Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder), and Craig Woodson (shoulder) as questionable. Elliss, Jones, and Woodson each spent the entire week as limited participants in practice and all played last week with the same injury designations. Barmore, who missed New England’s Week 4 contest against Buffalo, was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, but returned as a full participant on Friday. His potential availability would be a big boost for the interior defensive line — as Brenden Schooler's will be for the core special teams units. Schooler is expected to be added to the 53-man roster ahead of game day after beginning the year on the Non-Football-Injury (NFI) list.

On the Raiders’ side, tight end Brock Bowers (knee), wide receiver Cody White (ankle) and Dareke Young (shoulder), and guards Spencer Buford (knee) and Jackson Powers-Johnson (groin) all popped up on the injury report this week, but none carry injury designations for Sunday. Running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle/foot) carries a questionable game day status, while guard Trey Zuhn III (knee) has been ruled out with a knee injury.

Las Vegas’ offense has the talent and proven production to challenge New England’s defense at all three levels, but with an aggressive, attacking ideology on that side of the ball for the Patriots, they could be the team that forces their opposition to shiver and quake. From creating disruption in the backfield to eliminating the deep-third, the Patriots will be sweeping along as the Raiders storm the country in search of continued success. On Sunday, we’ll see if the silver hats with the bristling black mustaches will rob them of their gold, or if the home team will be laughing when they’ve conquered and won. That’ll start with knocking them around and upside down on defense.

What will you be watching for when the New England defense takes the field against the Las Vegas offense? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.

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