"It's no secret that expectations were (and still are) high for the Patriots' 2025 season, with some even suggesting they could make a sneaky playoff run by year's end. That might be premature for most, and based on how they played against the Raiders in Week 1, they appear correct with that feeling. But there is still plenty of room to grow for this young Patriots team, and it looks like they're in good hands with Mike Vrabel as the head coach."
"It's probably too early for doom and gloom, though, yet the feeling of a disappointing loss only gets worse when you hear comments like Pete Carroll's after the game. Although he didn't necessarily say anything controversial about the Patriots, it's what he had to say about Geno Smith that made New England's defensive effort look even worse."
"Much like he did when he was the starter for the Seahawks last year, Smith torched the Patriots' defense, showing that he is among the top-10 quarterbacks in the league. It was not an expected showing by the improved defense, with Harold Landry standing out most for his impressive pass rush abilities, but it wasn't enough to slow down Smith, who put on a masterclass yet again."
High expectations surround the Patriots' 2025 season, but Week 1 against the Raiders tempered optimism after a disappointing loss. The young roster still shows room for growth under coach Mike Vrabel, yet Sunday’s performance produced frustration among fans. Geno Smith delivered an outstanding outing, throwing for 362 yards and a touchdown and effectively exploiting New England's defense. Harold Landry flashed strong pass-rush play, but the overall defensive effort could not contain Smith. Pete Carroll publicly minimized Smith's performance, framing it as routine and deepening concerns about the Patriots' defensive readiness.
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