The Raiders fell to the Patriots 16-9 in New England's home opener, dropping the team to 0-3 on the season. Head Coach Dennis Allen is now 8-27 (.229) all-time and 0-4 against AFC East opposition.
With the loss, the Raiders fall to 15-17-1 in the regular season and 5-10-1 on the road against New England and 5-10-1 on the road. The team's last win on the road against the Patriots came on 10/9/94, a 17-14 victory.
Following the loss, the Raiders (459-396-11) are six wins shy of the Patriots (495-391-9) for the most overall wins among the eight original AFL teams.
The offense opened the scoring in a game for the first time since Thanksgiving Day last season at Dallas (11/28/13). K Sebastian Janikowski's 49-yard field goal, which capped off a 13-play, 50-yard drive (6:10) in the first quater, was the team's first field goal attempt of the season.
The Raiders defense came out strong in the first quarter, forcing punts on each of New England's first two possessions including a three-and-out on their opening drive. The Raiders allowed only 23 total yards (0 net yards passing) in the first quarter, marking the first time since Oct. 12, 2003 (vs. NYG) the Patriots were held without a passing yard through the first quarter.
The Raiders held New England to just 141 total yards in the first half, marking the second fewest total yards the Raiders have ever allowed New England in a single half (fewest: 102 on 11/17/02). It is also just the second time in the teams' regular-season series the defense held the Patriots to 10-or-fewer points in the first half (6 at Oakland, 11/17/02).
The Raider defense did not allow a sack of QB Derek Carr for the second time this season. The team's two sacks allowed through three games tie the second best mark in franchise history (1970 and 2011).
The defense consistently stopped the Patriots inside the red zone, forcing New England to kick field goals on three of their four red zone possessions, including their last three. Through three games, the Raiders have held opponents to just five-of-13 (38.5 pct.) inside the 20-yard line.
The defense forced three-and-outs on the Patriots' opening possessions of each half and forced New England to punt on its first two possessions of each half. That is the second time this season the Raiders forced three-and-outs to start both halves (Week 1 at NYJ).
The defense was effective in stopping the Patriots' rushing attack, holding them to 76 yards on the ground. That marks the lowest total since the defense held San Diego to 36 yards on 10/6/13 and the first time since 12/15/13 vs. KC (78 yards) the Raiders held an opponent to under 100 yards rushing.
Individual Notes: Offense
QB Derek Carr continued his streak of strong first-half performances, completing 13-of-18 passes for a 72.2 completion percentage. That is the second highest single-half completion percentage a Raider quarterback has ever recorded against New England (best: Jason Campbell, 11-of-15, 73.3 pct., 10/2/11 at Oak.). Carr is 32-of-44 passing (72.7 pct.) with 248 yards in first halves this season.
Carr finished the afternoon 21-of-34 passing (61.8 pct.) with 174 yards and one INT. Through three games, Carr is 68-of-108 passing for a completion percentage of 63.0 percent. Only two rookie QBs in NFL history (Robert Griffin III, 67.4 pct. In 2012 and Rick Mirer, 70.8 pct. In 1993) have posted higher completion percentages through the first three weeks of a season when attempting at least 50 passes.
Carr completed passes to nine different receivers in the contest, the second time this season he spread the ball around to at least nine different players (Week 1 at NYJ). The Raiders accomplished that feat twice in 2013 (9/29 vs. Was. and 10/13 at KC).
On the opening drive, RB Darren McFadden had three attempts for eight rushing yards, passing Pete Banaszak (3,772) for sixth on the franchise's all-time rushing list. McFadden, who has played 100 fewer games than Banaszak, finished with 18 carries for 59 yards (3.3 avg.).
McFadden's 18 rushing attempts in the game move him ahead of Marv Hubbard (913) and Tyrone Wheatley (914) and into sixth place in franchise history with 917 attempts.
McFadden's 65 total yards of offense (59 rushing, six receiving) put him ahead of Chris Carr (5,395) for 10th on the Raiders' all-time all-purpose yards list.
McFadden's 9-yard reception in the fourth quarter moved him ahead of Charlie Smith (1,596) for the sixth-most receiving yards among Raider running backs. McFadden now has 1,600 receiving yards in his career.
WR James Jones led the team in receiving yards for the third straight game with three receptions for 43 yards (14.3 avg.). With his 12-yard reception from Carr for a first down in the third quarter, Jones passed Mike Siani (182 in 1972) for the most receiving yards through the first three games of a season in franchise history with 189.
FB Marcel Reece had his biggest offensive game of the season with three receptions for 19 yards (6.3 avg.) and one rush for seven yards. In the first half, Reece eclipsed 1,500 receiving yards in his career, becoming the 32nd Raider and just the eighth running back in franchise history to do so.
FB/RB Jamize Olawale recorded his first reception of the season, a 4-yard catch.
Individual Notes: Defense
DE Justin Tuck recorded his first sack as an Oakland Raider to force a three-and-out on the Patriots' first second-half possession. Tuck now has 61.5 career sacks, 16th among active players.
Tuck has now sacked Tom Brady five times in his career, two in each of their Super Bowl match-ups (2/3/08 and 2/5/12), and only once in the regular season.
DL C.J. Wilson brought down Tom Brady for an 8-yard sack, which forced a third-and-long in the fourth quarter. The sack gives Wilson 4.5 for his career and his first wearing the Silver and Black.
LB Khalil Mack delivered a big hit to Tom Brady's blind side in the third quarter to force an incompletion and New England's fourth punt of the game.
CB Carlos Rogers met Shane Vereen in the backfield on a well-read screen pass for a 5-yard loss, leading to the second New England punt of the first quarter.
S Charles Woodson defensed two passes in the game, giving him five career passes batted down against Tom Brady (two on 12/19/10 and one in the Divisional Round playoff on 1/19/02).
S Tyvon Branch led the defensive unit in tackles with 10 (seven solo).
Individual Notes: Special Teams
K Sebastian Janikowski converted his first field goal attempt of the season in the first quarter, a 49-yarder. Janikowski added a 47-yarder late in the third quarter. With that conversion, Janikowski passed Norm Johnson for 11th all-time with 99 made field goals from between 40 and 49 yards out.
Janikowski finished the game 3-for-3 on field goals 49, 37 and 47), giving him 1,502 career points. Janikowski became just the 18th player in NFL history to eclipse the 1,500 points mark.
The game also marks the first time since 10/28/12 that Janikowski was perfect on field goals when attempting at least three in a game (4-for-4 at KC).
Janikowski kicked off four times in the game, passing Matt Stover (1,014) for sixth all-time in career kickoffs. The 15-year veteran now has 1,018 career kickoffs.
P Marquette King had his first punt inside the 20 this season, finishing the game with three punts inside the 20. King had 23 punts inside the 20 in 2013. King punted five times altogether for 216 yards (43.2 avg.).
CB TJ Carrie had his best performance of the year returning punts, bringing back four punts for 36 yards (9.0 avg.) and a long of 21 yards.
