The Las Vegas Raiders were not always perfect in Week One against the New England Patriots, but they came through when it mattered most.
The team rode an excellent performance from quarterback Geno Smith and a strong second half to get a 20-13 win in their 2025 season debut. It gave Raiders fans a sense of confidence heading into the rest of the season, suggesting that all of the work put in to improve the team this offseason is paying off. While it is important to not overreact to one game, the Raiders are heading into their home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday with serious momentum.
Just as the team is gaining confidence, Smith received some encouraging words of his own after the game.
Smith received a text from Tom Brady himself after his first Raiders win.
After the game, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer revealed that Smith received a short text from Brady that told the quarterback what the Raiders minority owner thought of his performance.
”Good game. Get ready for the next one,” the text read.
It is a clear sign that Smith has earned the trust of Brady and the Raiders’ braintrust early on, which is a positive sign.
Working in concert with head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek, Brady has played a role in helping to re-establish the Raiders as a quality franchise. One of the moves that Brady gave his approval on was the decision to bring Smith in from the Seattle Seahawks back in March. The goal for Smith this season was simple: give the Raiders the solid quarterback play they have missed over the past few seasons.
While the work is far from complete, Smith’s Week One showing was a good indication that things are trending in the right direction.
Three takeaways from Raiders’ impressive 20-13 win over Patriots
