In a closely contested season opener, the Las Vegas Raiders emerged victorious against the New England Patriots with a final score of 20-13. The game marked the debut of Pete Carroll as the oldest head coach in NFL history. Despite high hopes for the Patriots under new coach Mike Vrabel, the team struggled to find their rhythm and lacked spark throughout the match. Geno Smith shone for the Raiders, surpassing 300 passing yards, and his early touchdown pass set the tone for the game. Both teams faced challenges with weather conditions as rain and cold greeted them at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots will need to regroup as questions linger about their performance and what adjustments they can make moving forward.