The NFL schedule is being released gradually, and some details have already leaked through insiders.
Jordan Schultz revealed that the Las Vegas Raiders’ season opener, which will mark running back Ashton Jeanty’s NFL debut, will be against the New England Patriots, a matchup loaded with storylines to explore.
Raiders To Start the Season Against Tom Brady’s Former Team In Ashton Jeanty’s Debut
The 2025 season opener between the Raiders and Patriots will feature a series of compelling storylines. Now as a minority owner of the Raiders, Brady will return to Foxborough to watch his team face his former team in his old home, the place where he built his legacy for over more than 20 years as the greatest player in NFL history.
Sources: The #Raiders — led by new faces Pete Carroll, QB Geno Smith and RB Ashton Jeanty — will travel to New England to face Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye and the #Patriots in Week 1. pic.twitter.com/bjGIh20uw9
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 14, 2025
The game will also mark the debut of Geno Smith and Pete Carroll with the Raiders — a duo tasked with restoring the franchise’s competitiveness through the winning, player-friendly culture Carroll has built throughout his career, along with the talent of Smith, who played the best football of his career in Seattle.
But perhaps the most intriguing storyline revolves around the rookie selected with the sixth overall pick by Las Vegas. Jeanty, a standout at running back who had one of the best seasons in college football history for Boise State in 2025, will be making his professional debut, and expectations couldn’t be higher.
Jeanty left college with one of the most impressive stat lines we’ve ever seen, rushing for 2,601 yards and scoring 30 scrimmage touchdowns in just 14 games. Despite being a shorter back, he’ll enter a system led by a coach who values the run game — and with few options at wide receiver, his workload could be heavy from the start.
MORE: Live Updated NFL Schedule Leaks 2025
In 2024, the Patriots’ defense ranked among the NFL’s worst, finishing the year 30th in the PFSN Defense+ Metric with a dismal score of 64.2. Their run defense, in particular, was the 10th-worst unit in the league, allowing 131.4 rushing yards per game. These numbers led to head coach Jerod Mayo being fired after just one season.
However, to replace him, the Patriots brought in Mike Vrabel, the former Tennessee Titans head coach known for his defensive mindset and for building a physical style of play. On top of that, the additions of Milton Williams and Harold Landry to the defensive line, along with former Raider linebacker Robert Spillane, should provide a stronger run defense and a real challenge for Jeanty and Carroll.
To top it off, New England’s offensive coordinator is Josh McDaniels, who returned to the franchise after an unsuccessful stint as head coach of the Raiders, adding yet another layer to this reunion of familiar faces.
The season opener between the Raiders and Patriots will mark the debut of several key figures in new roles, teams, and responsibilities. It’s expected to set the tone for a fresh start for two franchises that have struggled to find success in recent years but now find hope in renewal and a shift in philosophy.