"The Patriots have been preparing for their season opener against the Raiders on Sunday, a matchup that has them currently favored to walk out with the win for the first time in over a year. They were the consistent underdogs throughout the 2024 season, but the Mike Vrabel effect has already improved their odds of adding more wins than they did over the last two years."
"The game against the Raiders, however, is not expected to be a cake walk. The return of Pete Carroll as an NFL head coach, along with quarterback Geno Smith has put their team more on the radar than they have in recent history, with a dominant defense to put them over the top. It will be a challenging day for the newly upgraded New England offense, especially the offensive line, as they attempt to slow down a player like Maxx Crosby."
The Patriots enter their season opener against the Raiders favored to win for the first time in over a year after consistent underdog status in 2024. Mike Vrabel's arrival has already improved New England's odds of winning more games than in the past two seasons. The Raiders remain a formidable opponent with Pete Carroll returning as head coach, Geno Smith at quarterback, and a dominant defense. New England's upgraded offense and offensive line face a tough matchup against pass rusher Maxx Crosby, and the secondary may be weakened by cornerback Christian Gonzalez's absence. Amari Cooper's reported decision to retire removes a key Raiders receiving threat and provides a sudden defensive advantage for the Patriots.
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