S³ | NFL WEEK 5
Drake Maye is reminding the NFL why he was an MVP candidate in 2025.
The New England Patriots delivered their most impressive offensive performance of the young season, dismantling the Las Vegas Raiders 45–17 behind an outstanding performance from their franchise quarterback.
Maye didn't just put up numbers. He commanded an offense that accumulated 536 total yards, averaged 8.1 yards per play and converted both fourth-down opportunities.
FINAL | WEEK 5
| Team | Score | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Raiders | 17 | 3–2 |
| Patriots | 45 | 3–2 |
S³ Player of the Game: Drake Maye
| Pass YDS | Pass TD | COMP | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 374 | 4 | 76.5% | 150.9 |
Individual passing line shown in the supplied box score.
Maye's MVP-Level Performance
Maye completed 26 of 34 passes for 374 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. He added another 25 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
That's five total touchdowns from New England's quarterback.
What makes this performance particularly impressive is the distribution of the football.
- DeMario Douglas: 4 receptions, 65 yards, 2 TD.
- Kyle Williams: 3 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD.
- Hunter Henry: 3 receptions, 44 yards, 1 TD.
- Efton Chism III: 5 receptions, 57 yards.
- Eli Raridon: 5 receptions, 57 yards.
Maye wasn't relying on one receiver to carry the passing attack. He was finding different weapons and consistently generating explosive plays.
The Numbers Tell the Story
| Team statistics | Raiders | Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 306 | 536 |
| First downs | 16 | 29 |
| Passing yards | 268 | 371 |
| Rushing yards | 38 | 165 |
| Yards per play | 5.4 | 8.1 |
| Third down | 5/13 | 6/12 |
| Fourth down | 0/2 | 2/2 |
New England nearly doubled Las Vegas in total production.
The Patriots also established a legitimate rushing attack, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Rhamondre Stevenson contributed 64 yards and a touchdown, while Corey Kiner added 52 yards on just six carries.
This was balanced, efficient football.
Raiders: From 3–0 to 3–2
Las Vegas entered the season with considerable momentum, winning its first three games under Klint Kubiak.
Now the Raiders have lost two consecutive games, and their inability to establish the running game is becoming a serious concern.
Ashton Jeanty finished with just 27 rushing yards on 10 carries.
That's 2.7 yards per attempt.
Jeanty did contribute 50 receiving yards, but Las Vegas cannot expect its offense to operate consistently when its featured running back is struggling to generate production on the ground.
Kirk Cousins completed 19 of 28 passes for 243 yards and one touchdown before Fernando Mendoza saw action.
Brock Bowers was the Raiders' most productive offensive weapon, recording eight receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown, although he also lost a fumble.
The Raiders finished with just 38 rushing yards as a team.
That's not winning football.
S³ Final Take
Five weeks into the season, New England is beginning to resemble the team many expected to see with Mike Vrabel leading the Patriots and Drake Maye developing into one of the NFL's premier young quarterbacks.
Maye has already demonstrated that his 2025 MVP candidacy wasn't a one-year phenomenon.
The Patriots are back above water at 3–2, while the Raiders suddenly find themselves searching for answers after surrendering 45 points.
S³ Bottom Line: The Raiders started the season 3–0, but New England exposed some serious weaknesses. Meanwhile, Drake Maye is making an early argument that his name belongs right back in the MVP conversation.
The Patriots aren't simply winning behind Maye. When he plays like this, they have the offensive firepower to overwhelm opponents.
