Defense, Burkhead lead way in Pats win over Raiders

FOXBORO, Mass. — A week after losing on a defensive stand by the Seattle Seahawks on the final play of the game, the New England Patriots rebounded with a strong defensive effort of their own Sunday.

The New England defense limited a Raiders team that scored 68 points combined in the first two weeks to just 20 in Week 3, while scoring seven points themselves on a fumble recovery. That defensive effort, plus a three-touchdown performance by RB Rex Burkhead, lifted the Patriots to a 36-20 win over Las Vegas Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

On three of the five times that the Raiders (2-1) made their way to the New England red zone, the Patriots defense was able to hold strong and keep Vegas from scoring touchdowns. Two of those drives ended in field goals for the Raiders, while New England (2-1) forced a Josh Jacobs fumble the first time Las Vegas drove into Patriot territory.

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New England forced a second Raiders fumble in the fourth quarter, this time with Deatrich Wise Jr. stripping and recovering the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, putting the contest away for good.

Burkhead led the way on offense for the Patriots, finding the end zone three times – once by air and twice via the ground.

It was the running back’s fourth multi-touchdown game of his career, per ESPN. His third touchdown of the game – a 2-yard rush with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter – extended New England’s lead to 16 points before Wise’s scoop and score sealed the win for the Patriots.

Burkhead found pay dirt in both halves, with his second score of the day coming on a 5-yard touchdown run on New England’s first drive of the third quarter.

In a first half defined by bend-don’t-break defensive stands in the red zone, both teams traded touchdowns on the final drives of the second quarter.

Burkhead struck for his first score of the day on an 11-yard touchdown catch and run to push the New England lead to 10 points approaching halftime. However, Derek Carr and company went to work quickly, with just 34 seconds remaining. They would only need 28 seconds to march 75 yards downfield on four plays.

Las Vegas finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Carr to TE Foster Moreau to bring the Raiders within a score going into the half.

WR Hunter Renfrow scored on a 13-yard reception with just under two minutes to go in the contest to round out the scoring. Nick Folk added a pair of field goals for New England during the win, while Raiders K Daniel Carlson converted two of his three field goal attempts.

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With the win, Bill Belichick became the third coach in NFL history to win 275 regular season games, according to the Associated Press. The only others are Don Shula (328) and George Halas (318).

New England QB Cam Newton completed 17 of his 28 passes for 162 yards, a touchdown and an interception. His Las Vegas counterpart, Derek Carr, went 24-for-32, with 261 passing yards and two touchdowns.

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