There was a lot of optimism for the Patriots' chances going into their Week 1 matchup with the Raiders, with most picking the home team to come out with the win by game's end. At first, it looked like they were evenly matched, but that quickly fell apart the longer the game went on.
Despite seeming to get into the groove after a rough start, the Patriots' downfall after halftime was noticeable and frustrating. Nothing was working in any phase of the game, which made it easy for the Raiders to do whatever they pleased to steal a win in Foxboro.
It was another brutal reminder of just how far the Patriots still have to go to be a competitive team, even against opponents who are not considered among the best in the league.
Perhaps the most disappointing part was the Mike Vrabel era beginning on a rough note, and it only got worse, knowing they are continuing to extend an ugly record that no team would ever strive to achieve.
The Patriots' latest loss extends an NFL record that needs to end ASAP
With another home loss on Sunday, it marked the 24th time the Patriots have lost at Gillette Stadium since the 2021 season, which is the most in the entire league during that span.
It reiterates the idea that there is no such thing as home-field advantage for them anymore, completely the opposite of what they were known for during the dynasty.
Today was the Patriots' 24th home loss since the start of the 2021 NFL season. That's the most in the NFL in that span, and with the Panthers and Cardinals on the road today they now have two more than the next-closest team (standings entering today via @pfref) pic.twitter.com/DNW0qFD4Xe
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) September 7, 2025
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It's a streak that doesn't appear to have an end in sight, but could come to an end in the first month of this season if the Patriots can improve on what was seen on Sunday and manage to beat the Steelers in Week 3 or the Panthers in Week 4.
The sooner they win, the better, of course, but based on how the Steelers played against the Jets this week, they're chances aren't looking too good against them. That could change, as Aaron Rodgers is far from reliable at this stage in his career. Yet, the Patriots' defense was unable to maintain pressure on a QB like Geno Smith, so that doesn't lend much optimism two weeks before this matchup.
No matter what, the stretch of home losses cannot continue. It's not a good look for the historically successful franchise, especially when Vrabel was hired, along with an impressive coaching staff, to turn things around. The fans in attendance want to see their team compete at home, not only on the road.