I am the canary in the coal mine.
Every week, a MassLive sportswriter will pick the result of the upcoming Patriots game. I have the honor of Week 1. I suspect that will be a much easier task once we’ve all been able to see how Mike Vrabel’s crew looks against an opponent in a real game.
I don’t have that luxury. On top of that, the Raiders have a new coach and a new quarterback. So this really is Pin the Pick on the Donkey and in the hands of a lesser prognosticator, that would be a problem.
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If I were wise, I’d write something vague that gives me some wiggle room.
But what fun would that be? I’m going to not only tell you the result, but the score and some of the details:
The Patriots are going to win.
The score is going to be 31-28. Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson will miss a 49-yard field goal in the third quarter that will prove critical.
Drake Maye will throw for 274 yards with two touchdowns. He’ll force an ill-advised throw on his one interception.
Stephon Diggs will show promise and have one signature catch that makes fans excited about having him. But Pop Douglas will lead the Patriots in receiving yardage and Hunter Henry will have two touchdown catches. Rhamondre Stevenson will lead the Patriots in rushing yards, outgaining promising rookie TreVeyon Henderson by 12 yards.
Jakobi Meyers will catch six passes for 81 yards for the Raiders.
The Raiders will have the ball late and Pete Carroll will look really fired up about it on the sidelines, but they won’t cross midfield before turning the ball over on downs, allowing the Patriots to run out the clock.
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