TEAM NOTES
• Three 2025 rookies were in the starting lineup.
• TE Hunter Henry becomes fifth New England tight end to reach 200 receptions.
• WR Kayshon Boutte has second career 100-yard game.
• LB Harold Landry registers 2½ sacks in Patriots debut.
• S Jaylinn Hawkins has first full sack and first interception with the Patriots.
TEAM NOTES THREE OF THE 2025 ROOKIES MAKES OPENING DAY STARTS
Three of the 2025 draft picks were in the starting lineup with first-round pick Will Campbell starting at left tackle, Jared Wilson starting at left guard and fourth-round pick Craig Woodson starting at safety. Thirty-two rookies have now started on opening day since 2000.
ROOKIES IN THE STARTING LINEUP SINCE 2000
2025 – LT Will Campbell (first-round), LG Jared Wilson (third-round) and S Craig Woodson (fourth-round)
2024 – G Layden Robinson (fourth-round)
2023 – CB Christian Gonzalez (first-round), OL Sidy Sow (fourth-round) and OL Atonio Mafi (fifth-round)
2022 – OL Cole Strange (first-round)
2021 – QB Mac Jones (first-round)
2020 – OL Mike Onwenu (sixth-round)
2018 - LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (fifth-round)
2016- OL Joe Thuney (third-round), WR Malcolm Mitchell (fourth-round) and OL Ted Karras (sixth-round)
2015 – DL Malcom Brown (first-round), OL Tre Jackson (fourth-round) and OL David Andrews (rookie FA)
2013 – WR Kenbrell Thompkins (rookie free agent)
2012 – DL Chandler Jones (first-round) and LB Dont'a Hightower (first-round)
2011 – OL Nate Solder (first-round) and DB Ras-I Dowling (second-round)
2010- DB Devin McCourty (first-round), TE Rob Gronkowski (second-round) and TE Aaron Hernandez (fourthround)
2008- LB Jerod Mayo (first-round)
2006 – OL Ryan O'Callaghan (fifth-round)
2005 -OL Logan Mankins (first-round)
2004 – DL Vince Wilfork (first-round) and TE Ben Watson (first-round)
2002- TE Daniel Graham (first-round)
2001 - DL Jace Sayler (rookie free agent)
PATRIOTS DEFENSE HELD RAIDERS UNDER THREE YARDS PER CARRRY
The Patriots limited Las Vegas to 56 yards on 24 carries for a 2.3-yard average per carry. It is the lowest total since the Patriots held Kansas City to a 2.2-yard average on Dec. 17, 2023.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
HUNTER HENRY BECOMES FIFTH NEW ENGLAND TIGHT END TO REACH 200 RECEPTIONS
TE Hunter Henry caught a 27-yard pass from QB Drake Maye in the first quarter for his 200th reception as a member of the Patriots, becoming the fifth New England tight end to reach 200 receptions. He finished the game with 4 receptions for 66 yards.
Most Receptions Among Patriots Tight Ends
| Player | Receptions |
|---|---|
| Rob Gronkowski | 521 |
| Ben Coates | 490 |
| Marv Cook | 210 |
| Russ Francis | 207 |
| Hunter Henry | 203 |
BOUTTE OPENS SEASON WITH A 100-YARD GAME
WR Kayshon Boutte closed out the 2024 season with his first 100-yard game and opened the 2025 season with his second 100-yard game. Boutte had 7 receptions for 117 yards in the 2024 season-finale vs. Buffalo on Jan. 5, 2025. He finished with 6 receptions for 103 yards against the Raiders. The last Patriot to have record over 100 yards receiving in two consecutive games was WR Julian Edelman who had 110 yards at Washington (10/6/99) and 113 yards vs. the New York Giants (10/10/99).
BOUTTE IS THE FIRST PATRIOT PLAYER WITH A 100-YARD GAME ON OPENING DAY SINCE 2018
Boutte is the first Patriots player to have a 100-yard game on opening day since 2018 when TE Rob Gronkowski had 7 receptions for 123 yards vs. Houston on Sept. 9, 2018.
STEFON DIGGS PLAYS IN FIRST GAME WITH THE PATRIOTS
WR Stefon Diggs, who did not play in the preseason, saw his first action as a member of the Patriots. His first reception came on a 5-yard pass from QB Drake Maye in the second quarter. He finished the game with tied with a team-leading 6 receptions (for 57 yards).
TWO ROOKIES START ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LINE
2025 first-round draft pick Will Campbell started at left tackle and 2025 third-round draft pick Jared Wilson started at left guard. The last team to open the season with rookies at left tackle and left guard was the 2016 Baltimore Ravens with T Ronnie Stanley (first-round) at left tackle and G Alex Lewis (fourth-round) at left guard.
NEWLY ACQUIRED LB HAROLD LANDRY III REGISTERS 2½ SACKS
LB Harold Landry III was credited with 2½ sacks, his seventh multiple sack game. It is second to his careerhigh 3 sacks at Miami on Dec. 11, 2023, with Tennessee. His last multi-sack game was vs. the N.Y. Jets on Sept. 15, 2024, when he had 2 sacks.
S JAYLINN HAWKINS REGISTERS FIRST PICK AS A PATRIOT
S Jaylinn Hawkins recorded his first interception as a member of the Patriots to end a Raiders drive in the first quarter off a tipped pass by CB Carlton Davis III. The takeaway resulted in a 12-play, 82-yard scoring drive which tied the game at 7 in the first quarter.
HAWKINS GETS CREDIT FOR FIRST CAREER FULL SACK
Hawkins sacked Raiders QB Geneo Smith for a 5-yard loss in the second quarter, his first career full sack. Both of his credited sacks came against the Raiders. He combined with DT Tyler Davison for a 6-yard sack vs. the Raiders on Nov. 29, 2020, when he played for the Falcons.
HAWKINS RECORDS A PICK AND A SACK
Hawkins is the first player since CB Ellis Hobbs on Sept. 7, 2008, vs. Kansas City, to record an interception and a sack in Week 1 for the Patriots. He is only the fourth player to do so since sacks became an official stat in 1982, joining Hobbs, CB Steve Israel (9/12/99) and LB Andre Tippett (9/1/91).
GIBSON RETURNED A FIRST QUARTER KICKOFF 41 YARDS
RB Antonio Gibson had a 41-yard kickoff return in the first quarter, his third kickoff return of at least 40 yards and his longest since he had a 42-yard kickoff return at Buffalo on Dec. 22, 2024. MAYE TO MAYE QB Drake Maye caught his own deflected pass for a 2-yard gain in the fourth quarter. The last Patriots quarterback to complete a pass to himself was QB Bailey Zappe for a 6-yard loss at Cleveland on Oct. 16, 2022.
MAYE SETS CAREER HIGH IN ATTEMPTS, YARDS AND TIES CAREER HIGH IN COMPLETIONS
Maye set a career-high with 46 pass attempts and his 30 pass completions tied a career high. Maye's previous best was 41 attempts at Tennessee (11/3/24) and vs. Houston (10/13/24). He also had 30 completions vs. the L.A. Rams (11/17/24). His 287 passing yards are a career high, besting the 282 yards he had vs. the L.A. Rams on Nov. 17 2024.
LINEUP NOTES NEW FACES
Twenty-three of the 28 new players on the 2025 roster saw action against the Raiders.
• 2025 draft picks – T Will Campbell, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Kyle Williams, OL Jared Wilson, S Craig Woodson, DT Joshua Farmer, K Andy Borregales, T Marcus Bryant and LS Julian Ashby.
• Rookie free agents –LB Elijah Ponder
• First-year – CB D.J. James
• Veteran free agents – C Garrett Bradbury, LB K'Lavon Chaisson, CB Carlton Davis III, WR Stefon Diggs, DT Cory Durden, LB Jack Gibbens, WR Mack Hollins, LB Harold Landry III, T Morgan Moses, LB Robert Spillane, DL Khyiris Tonga and DT Milton Williams. In addition, two players were brough up from the practice squad and saw action - DB Corey Ballentine and LB Mark Robinson.
AUSTIN STARTS AT CORNER
CB Alex Austin started at cornerback in place of CB Christian Gonzalez, who was inactive due to an injury. Austin started the last three games in 2024 at cornerback in place of Marcus Jones.
