Patriots captain believes defense showed ‘glimpse of dominance’ vs. Raiders
The Patriots have plenty of work to do after a 20-13 setback against the Raiders on Sunday afternoon.
But, speaking after the loss, Patriots captain Harold Landry III offered up plenty of optimism about New England’s ceiling on the defensive side of the ball.
“I feel like we came out with good energy. … I felt like you could see the glimpse of dominance that our defense has,” Landry said.
Landry — who signed a three-year, $43.5 contract with New England in free agency — was one of the bright spots on an otherwise dreary afternoon for the Patriots against Las Vegas.
Landry was a force in New England’s pass-rushing efforts against Raiders QB Geno Smith, closing out the game with 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, and three tackles for a loss.
“We all know on the defensive side of the ball, the sky’s the limit for us,” Landry said. “I think for us it’s just that consistency snapping in and snapping out and not having any lapses. You can easily tell that we have so much potential on that side of the ball.
New England invested heavily on defense as part of a free-agency spending spree — with Landry part of the wave of offseason signings that also included DT Milton Williams, LB Robert Spillane, CB Carlton Davis, EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson, and others.
The Patriots were able to both generate pressure against Smith and largely contain rookie running back Ashton Jeanty on Sunday, with the Raiders finishing with just 56 total yards on the ground.
Landry was far from the only Patriots free-agent pickup to show out on Sunday, as Williams — who inked a four-year, $104 million contract with New England — recorded two QB hits and seven total pressures.
According to Next Gen Stats, both Landry and Williams led the Patriots with seven pressures apiece against the Raiders. During a 2024 season where New England recorded a league-worst 28 sacks, there was only one game where a Patriots player generated seven-plus pressures (Keion White against the 49ers on Sept. 29, 2024).
Even with the upside found in New England’s pass rush and offseason pickups like Landry, it was far from a perfect showing from the Patriots’ defensive unit.
Las Vegasmanaged to generate plenty of explosive plays down the field, with Smith closing out the win with 362 passing yards. The Raiders generated nine players that resulted in 20 or more yards.
The eventual return of Christian Gonzalez at some point from a nagging hamstring injury should help New England snuff out some of those chunk-yardage plays.
But, Landry believes the onus falls on the players on the field Sunday to ensure that a repeat performance doesn’t play out on Week 2 against the Dolphins.
“It’s going to be to come in, be ready to work, make the corrections. You have to be hungry to improve,” Landry said. “It’s Week 1. Nobody’s going to be talking about this week in a couple weeks, you got to be ready to make the corrections, be critical of yourself, and find ways to improve.
“Find a way to be more consistent, [Mike Vrabel] isn’t going to change, he knows what it takes to win in this league, and he knows that the guys just got to come in here ready to work.”
Jamal Adams Expresses Deep Gratitude for Pete Carroll Giving Him Another Shot
In a heartfelt display of gratitude, Jamal Adams has opened up about the special bond he shares with Pete Carroll, calling out the Seahawks head coach for giving him another shot after his rocky start with the team. The friendship and trust between the two have become one of the most talked-about relationships in the NFL, with Adams praising Carroll for being a constant source of support and faith throughout his career.
“Coach Pete has always had my back,” Adams shared in a recent interview. “When a lot of people counted me out, he was the one who believed in me, and that means everything. I’ll be forever grateful for the second chance he gave me to prove myself.”
Adams, who has faced his fair share of challenges and criticism over the years, has found a sense of renewed confidence in Carroll’s system. Under Carroll’s leadership, Adams has flourished into one of the top safeties in the league, and their tight-knit relationship has been crucial in his journey.
The bond between Carroll and Adams speaks volumes about the trust and mutual respect between coach and player, a dynamic that has helped the Seahawks overcome numerous obstacles. Carroll’s ability to see past the media narrative and offer Adams a chance to truly thrive has set a powerful example of what belief and support can do for an athlete’s mindset.
As Adams continues to shine on the field, his relationship with Carroll stands as a reminder of how important faith and mentorship are in shaping a player’s career. With both Carroll and Adams in sync, the Seahawks are poised to make waves—and the Carroll-Adams connection remains a powerful force in their success.
Kellen Moore Speaks Out: Saints Face Major Secondary Crisis After Latest Injury!
The New Orleans Saints are facing a critical situation in their defense after another key injury left them with a massive hole in their secondary. Kellen Moore, the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, didn’t mince words when commenting on the Saints’ vulnerable position following the injury, pointing out that the team’s secondary could be exposed moving forward.
“It’s a huge blow for the Saints,” Moore said in a recent interview. “When you lose a player of that caliber in the secondary, it changes everything. You’re facing teams with explosive offenses, and now the Saints are going to have to adjust their whole defensive game plan.”
The Saints' secondary, which has already been inconsistent at times, now faces the daunting task of filling the void left by the injury. Moore’s comments come at a time when the team is already struggling to maintain defensive consistency against high-powered offenses.
While the Saints still have a solid defensive line, Moore highlighted that their ability to handle top-tier quarterbacks and wide receivers will now be more difficult than ever. The injury could prove to be a game-changer in the Saints’ defensive scheme, and it’s unclear how they’ll manage in the coming weeks.
“Defenses are built from the back end up, and the secondary is where everything starts,” Moore continued. “The Saints have some work to do to make up for this loss, and it won’t be easy.”
As the Saints prepare for the rest of the season, all eyes will be on their secondary. Can they fill the gap and continue their playoff push, or will this injury be the undoing of their defense?
