The Las Vegas Raiders made a statement in Week 1 by beating New England 20‑13, and the most interesting reactions came from within the locker room. Many pundits framed the matchup as a revenge game for Maxx Crosby because former Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels now calls plays for the Patriots. Crosby, however, took the high road, saying McDaniels was always good to him and that he still respects him. Some players bristled at McDaniels’ rigid style during his short and turbulent tenure, but Crosby insists their relationship remains “nothing but good things.”
Oddsmakers didn’t see this coming. The Raiders opened as road underdogs in many betting markets despite the turmoil in New England’s offence. Even some Canadian sportsbook sites had Las Vegas getting points, and they quickly adjusted their lines after the upset. That swing echoed what you’d expect inside casinos, too—where sportsbook operators constantly balance risk and action. Just as slot machines and blackjack tables rely on the house edge, sportsbooks manage odds in real time to protect their margins.
When a result like this hits, it doesn’t just shift the point spreads; it can ripple across casino floors, altering player behaviour and boosting handle on the next slate of games. For the Raiders, beating McDaniels wasn’t as satisfying as showing that Pete Carroll’s new culture can produce results.
Crosby’s praise didn’t end with generalities. He singled out Patriots rookie lineman Will Campbell, calling him “a young, talented dude” and saying he has a bright future with McDaniels coaching him. He also noted that McDaniels knows how to develop players and run physical offences, but argued that his “Patriot Way” clashed with the Raiders’ locker‑room personalities, leading to a 9‑16 record.
The defence deserves as much credit as the offence. After some rough patches in the first half, the unit gave up just three points after halftime, combining veterans and rookies to slow the Patriots and confuse rookie quarterback Drake Maye. It’s only one game, but holding a Bill Belichick team to 13 points on the road is no small accomplishment.
Training camp glimpses hinted at this toughness. Second‑year right tackle DJ Glaze said in July that he loves facing Crosby every day in practice because the battles sharpen both players. That iron-sharpening-iron mentality carried into Foxborough as the offensive line held its own against New England’s front.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has put himself in a precarious spot. Entering the final year of his deal, he’s promised to report and play, which undermines his leverage. With only four receivers on the roster after Amari Cooper departed, Meyers could have forced the issue, but by remaining a consummate professional, he gives the front office little reason to sweeten their offer. He could end up playing out his deal and becoming trade bait if the season goes sideways.
Former interim head coach Antonio Pierce also opened up about his short tenure. On CBS’s pregame show, he said he and former GM Tom Telesco weren’t aligned on quarterback and running back decisions. Pierce wanted his own quarterback and to keep Josh Jacobs, but those moves never happened.
He praised Carroll and new GM John Spytek for getting their quarterback (Geno Smith) and drafting first‑round running back Ashton Jeanty, something he never received. Jacobs later said the Raiders offered him roughly $10 million per year without incentives and accused a decision‑maker of telling people he “needed the money,” which soured negotiations and pushed him to sign with Green Bay. Pierce’s comments underscored how a lack of alignment between coach and GM derailed the 2024 season.
There are plenty of storylines ahead, but the most surprising subplot of Week 1 is a star defensive end publicly crediting the coach who was run out of town less than two years ago. Crosby’s gracious words show his maturity and underscore the complicated legacy of McDaniels’ time in Las Vegas. If the Silver and Black continue to play tough, disciplined football under Carroll, the rest of the league might have to rethink its assumptions—and some sportsbooks might stop listing them as underdogs so quickly.
Unlike Antonio Pierce, Maxx isn’t going to burn any bridges.