Robert Spillane Shares Patriots Locker Room Message After Loss To Raiders
The Patriots obviously were hoping for a better result in the season opener, but they’re trying to keep perspective.
New England fell 20-13 to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at Gillette Stadium in its first game of the season. Despite an encouraging opening 30 minutes, the Patriots were undone by a mistake-filled second half.
Though there are plenty of holdovers on the roster, the 2025 Patriots feature a revamped roster. Preseason game action can’t emulate that of the regular season, so there was sure to be some bumpiness along the way.
Robert Spillane — who signed with the Patriots from the Raiders over the offseason and briefly played under Mike Vrabel in Tennessee — shared what the message was in the locker room after the game.
“We do have a long road ahead of us. It is a brand new team, brand new year,” Spillane said, via a team-provided transcript. “This is one game. We have a big week ahead of us to bounce back from for Miami.”
Indeed, the Dolphins could be a pretty soft landing for the Patriots. Miami got trounced 33-8 by the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Red Sox’ Aroldis Chapman on 3rd-longest streak of hitless domination since 1901
Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman has been unstoppable on the mound against the Diamondbacks. His dominance is giving the Red Sox a crucial edge as the postseason race heats up. Aroldis Chapman’s hitless streak has now reached 17 straight appearances without allowing a hit. This marks one of the most remarkable pitching runs in recent MLB history.
Chapman’s hitless streak has also stretched to 14⅔ innings, dating back to July 26, and it now ranks as the third-longest since 1901. Only Randy Choate’s 20 straight appearances in 2011 and Tim Byrdak’s 18 consecutive outings in 2012 stand ahead of him.
As a result, Aroldis Chapman’s resurgence has been vital for the Red Sox bullpen. His command and velocity have returned to elite form, and his presence has transformed the dynamic of late-inning situations. Because of this, Boston can now rely on him to shut down opposing lineups when it matters most. Against teams like the Diamondbacks and other playoff contenders, his consistency has given the Red Sox the upper hand in tight games.
Furthermore, this run highlights Chapman’s ability to adapt. Known throughout his career for overpowering hitters, he has now added sharper pitch sequencing and better movement to his arsenal. Consequently, hitters are struggling to pick up his slider after seeing a triple-digit fastball, creating a nearly unhittable combination. With each outing, his confidence grows, and so does the team’s trust in him to deliver in critical spots.
Ultimately, the Red Sox remain locked in a fierce battle for postseason positioning, and Chapman’s dominance has provided a much-needed boost. If he maintains this pace, his historic run could play a pivotal role in Boston’s playoff push. For now, every appearance by Chapman feels like must-watch baseball. The only question left: how long can Aroldis Chapman keep this hitless streak alive and cement his place in MLB history?
And more importantly, can the Red Sox ride his dominance all the way into the postseason?
