"After a rough start, the defense came into their own, with safety Jaylinn Hawkins hauling in an interception and an impressive sack to force a fourth down, while players like Harold Landry III and K'Lavon Chaisson were bringing the pressure to the Raiders' QB Geno Smith. That was a crucial part of the defensive effort throughout the afternoon, which seemed to fall off as the game continued after halftime."
"The doubters believed he was a courtesy signing by his former head coach from his days with the Titans, and he wouldn't move the needle in a very needy pass rush. We didn't get to see him disprove that narrative much during the preseason, but his performance against the Raiders sure did. Harold Landry quickly shut down all doubts about his fit as the Patriots' leading pass rusher"
Patriots' defense remained the roster's strongest unit and expected to keep the team competitive during the 2025 season. In the season opener against the Raiders, the defense recovered after a rough start. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins recorded an interception and an impressive sack to force a fourth down. Harold Landry III and K'Lavon Chaisson consistently pressured Raiders quarterback Geno Smith. Landry emerged as the brightest performer, silencing skeptics after being questioned following his free-agent signing. Landry finished with five combined tackles, three tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, and a team-high 2.5 sacks. The team had been heavily favored to land Micah Parsons because of pass-rush concerns.
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