FOXBOROUGH - One of the reasons so many national pundits are bullish on the Patriots centers on the belief they’ll field a top 10 defense.
The Patriots did spend a boatload of money in free agency to beef up that unit, and mold it in the image Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams desired.
Defensive tackles Milton Williams and Khyiris Tonga, defensive ends Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson, and linebackers Robert Spillane and Jack Gibbens were signed to fortify the front seven.
Cornerback Carlton Davis III was brought in to give the Patriots a dynamic cornerback duo with Christian Gonzalez.
So how good are they? Can they possibly live up to the hype?
In the season opener on Sunday, Pete Carroll’s Raiders might not have a high-powered offense with Geeno Smith at the helm, but they do have a few players who could blow up the Patriots narrative.
Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, who was taken sixth overall in the 2025 NFL draft, and tight end Brock Bowers, a first-round pick in 2024, are elite talents. No doubt Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will dial up plenty of plays to utilize both weapons.
In recent years, the Patriots have been victimized by top backs. Last season, six backs rushed for 100-plus yards against them. All of those games resulted in losses for the Patriots.
They’ve also had a tough time keeping tight ends from causing damage, or making pivotal plays at key points in games.
“I think every opening game of the season is a great measuring stick, a great opportunity,” Spillane, a former Raider, said Wednesday. “We’re going to find out a lot about this team shortly and find out how we need to move forward.”
The Patriots won’t likely have All-Pro corner Christian Gonzalez, who hasn’t practiced since July 28. The release of safety Jabrill Peppers last week, will also factor in, particularly against the run.
Jeanty, the rookie all-purpose back out of Boise State, rushed for 2,601 last season. That was just 28 yards shy of Barry Sanders’ 1988 NCAA record. He led college football with 2,750 all-purpose yards.
He’s that rare back teams draft in the first round.
No doubt Milton Williams and Christian Barmore will be put to the test trying to put the clamps on the Raiders explosive rookie.
“He’s a physical, physical player. You don’t see a lot of running backs go in the top 10, and for him to go in the top 10, there’s a reason for it,” Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams said Thursday. “He’s a downhill hard runner that’s going to present a lot of challenges.”
Anfernee Jennings, who’s done a good job setting the edge in recent years, said the Patriots are ready for him.
“Obviously he’s a good back, somebody we know we have to make sure we take care of,” Jennings said. “It’s just going to come down to us doing our jobs, gang tackling, and flying to the football.”
The Patriots have also had a tough time covering some of the elite tight ends in the league.
And Bowers is one of the best around. As a rookie last season, he led the team in receiving yards (1,194), and touchdowns (5).
Williams called him a “receiver in a tight end’s body.” It’ll be interesting to see how Vrabel and the Patriots DC plan on defending him. Will they go with a linebacker? A safety? A corner?
“Guys like him are great because they present so many issues,” Williams said. “You put a corner on him, and they start running the football. Then you open up another can of worms.”
Spillane has some experience going up against Bowers. He did his best to cover him last year during Raiders practices.
“Bowers is like the best. He’s awesome. I got to go up against him a bunch last year in training camp when he was a rookie,” Spillane said. “So it’s going to be a fun challenge to go up against him in a game.”
Spillane, as a middle linebacker, might draw the assignment when Bowers is lined up as a tight end, but the Raiders like to move him around.
“He runs like a deer,” Spillane said. “He catches everything, and he’s hard to bring down to the ground. So he can really do it all.”
Spillane said it’s the type of challenge he relishes.
“You love these matchups,” he said. “That’s why you play the game. That’s why you study so hard.”
How the Patriots handle Bowers, Jeanty and the Raiders offense will say a lot about how good the defense is, or otherwise.
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