"The New England Patriots were energized this offseason as they embarked on a new era led by head coach Mike Vrabel. The goal was to restore The Patriot Way, but things came crashing down a bit with an unexpected 20-13 Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders at home to kick off the 2025 NFL season. While New England played far from its best football, it sorely missed star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who is still nursing an injury."
"More crucial, however, were all of the moving pieces in the secondary, as Raiders quarterback Geno Smith diced up a group that just didn't look like they were on the same page without Gonzalez and recently-released safety Jabrill Peppers. Craig Woodson was the only safety who had any impact on the game against Las Vegas, so in a way, Patriots fans may have missed Peppers more than they thought they would."
Mike Vrabel leads a new era for the New England Patriots seeking to restore The Patriot Way. The team opened the 2025 season with a surprising 20-13 home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Injuries to cornerback Christian Gonzalez and a banged-up rookie left tackle Will Campbell hindered the offense and protection for Drake Maye. The Patriots secondary suffered major breakdowns as Geno Smith picked apart a group lacking cohesion; Craig Woodson was the lone safety with noticeable impact. Jabrill Peppers departed and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, an AFC opponent that could compete for a Wild Card and faces New England in Week 3.
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