The New England Patriots open their 2025 season on Sunday in a clash with the visiting Las Vegas Raiders.
Drake Maye's second year as an NFL quarterback, coinciding with the start of the Mike Vrabel era in New England, has created a real sense of hope around the franchise. There have been coaching staff upgrades and serious roster tweaks to pull the team out of the mud after back-to-back 4-13 regular season finishes.
The Raiders know all about mud after finishing the 2024 season with a 4-13 record. They have now turned to Super Bowl-winning head coach Pete Carroll as their savior, along with former Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl quarterback Geno Smith.