Drake Maye accounts for 5 TDs as Patriots roll past Raiders 45-17

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Drake Maye didn't have his top receiver, and the New England Patriots were missing both of their starting cornerbacks.

The third-year quarterback found plenty of other targets, and his defense still found a way to slow down Kirk Cousins and the Las Vegas Raiders.

Maye threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score, helping the Patriots pull away in the second half of a 45-17 victory on Sunday.

Maye was 26 of 34 for 374 yards passing in the second 300-yard game of his career. Two TDs went to Pop Douglas and one each to Hunter Henry and Kyle Williams.

Rhamondre Stevenson added a scoring run in a second consecutive victory that answered a sluggish start for the defending AFC champions.

With receiver Mack Hollins missing the first of at least four games with a calf injury, Maye had five players catch at least three passes, including Stevenson. Two pass-catchers who didn't score — Efton Chism III and Eli Raridon — each had five catches, the team high, for 57 yards.

“It was beautiful to be a part of today," Maye said. "There’s still some out there.”

On a day the Patriots celebrated the 25th anniversary of the first of their six first Super Bowl championships, Maye became the first with back-to-back games of at least three TDs passing for New England since Tom Brady in 2018. It was also Maye’s first game this season without a turnover. He scored on a 3-yard run.

The Patriots (3-2) finished with season-high 536 yards, and the defense forced while holding Las Vegas under 26 points for the first time this season without injured cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III.

“That’s what it has to be," coach Mike Vrabel said. "They realize when you get an opportunity, you do something with it.”

Cousins was 19 of 28 for 243 yards with a touchdown to Brock Bowers that pulled the Raiders (3-2) even early, but they were trailing by 28 points when they finally found the end zone again in the fourth quarter.

Cousins had limited time to operate throughout the game and was sacked three times.

"They did a nice job with their pressures, getting home quickly. Made it hard for us," Cousins said.

Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said it's clear there is work to do after back-to-back losses.

“We’re not happy with what happened today, and we’ve got to go do something about it,” Kubiak said.

No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza replaced Cousins with the game out of reach later in the fourth. Kubiak said Mendoza's appearance doesn't change the QB depth chart for now.

"Just wanted to get (Mendoza) some exposure," Kubiak said.

Four of the Patriots seven scoring drives lasted less than three minutes. New England scored touchdowns on four of five trips inside the 20-yard line.

It didn’t take long for New England’s offense to get going.

After a quick three-and-out by the Raiders to open the game, New England needed just five plays to cap a 79-yard drive with a 35-yard TD pass from Maye to a wide-open Douglas.

The drive included a 16-yard pass to Romeo Doubs to get the Patriots into Las Vegas territory.

The Raiders responded on the next series. First, Cousins connected on long completions to Bowers and Coby White. He then capitalized on a pass interference call on Kevin Byard that set up a 13-yard scoring pass to Bowers, who had eight catches for 110 yards.

New England kept its momentum going after Bowers' TD, scoring on a 5-yard run by Stevenson.

Las Vegas had a chance before halftime after Corey Kiner fumbled at the New England 37. But Matt Gay’s 49-yard field goal try hit the left upright, and the Patriots took a 14-point halftime lead on Maye's 11-yard pass to Henry 24 seconds before the break.

Raiders: DT Tonka Hemingway left in the first quarter with a neck injury and was ruled out. ... DE Patrick Johnson (neck) left in the second quarter.

Patriots: RB TreVeyon Henderson limped to the locker room in the second quarter with an ankle injury. Two plays later, LT Will Campbell was helped off with a right knee injury. Neither returned. ... CB Charles Woods exited in the third quarter with a shoulder injury.

Raiders: Host the Bills next Sunday.

Patriots: Host the Jets next Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws a pass under pressure from New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore (90) during an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) celebrates after his touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) celebrates his touchdown against the New England Patriots with teammate Cody White (82) during an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) looks to pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams (18) catches a touchdown pass against Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Hezekiah Masses (35) during an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers wanted to make sure they didn’t let a big lead against the Chicago Bears slip away again.

With help from a ball-hawking defense, the Packers poured it on instead.

Christian Watson caught two long touchdown passes from Love, MarShawn Lloyd also scored twice and the Packers forced five turnovers as they exacted a measure of revenge against their rivals by trouncing the Bears 31-7 on Sunday.

“I love it,” said Love, whose 367 yards passing was the most by a Packers quarterback against the Bears at Lambeau Field. “We kept our foot on the gas. (Coach) Matt (LaFleur) was dialing it up. That's what it needs to look like, right there.”

The Packers (3-2) had blown double-digit, fourth-quarter leads while losing their last two matchups with the Bears, including a 31-27 NFC wild-card playoff loss in which they squandered a 21-3 halftime advantage. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams celebrated that come-from-behind victory by grating cheese on the field, poking fun at Green Bay’s Cheesehead fan base.

Without Williams, the Bears had no shot at staging a similar rally Sunday.

Williams missed a third straight game with a hamstring injury, and Tyson Bagent started in his place. The Bears (3-2) were coming off wins over the Philadelphia Eagles with Keenum at quarterback and the New York Jets with Bagent, but they never threatened Green Bay.

Xavier McKinney intercepted two passes from Bagent, who went 12 of 21 for 87 yards. Keenum took over early in the fourth quarter and went 10 of 15 for 101 yards with an interception and a fumble.

Bears coach Ben Johnson said after the game that Williams is nearing a return.

“He’s on track,” Johnson said. “We’ll see if it’s (next week against) Atlanta or after. I think it’s going to be close.”

Green Bay (3-2) moved over .500 for the first time this season by repeatedly hitting long passing plays.

Watson said he was called crazy earlier in the week when he expressed optimism the Packers could exploit the Bears' pass defense. He caught six passes for 143 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown in the first quarter and a 53-yard score in the third.

Matthew Golden added a career-high 123 yards receiving while matching a career best with six catches.

“We watched the film,” Watson said. “We saw the opportunities there, regardless of how good they were in other games against certain teams. We knew what was going to be there and took advantage of it today.”

As Green Bay got a big lead, its defense kept attacking. Chicago turned the ball over on four straight second-half possessions.

Green Bay took command early by flipping the script on the Bears, who entered the day leading the NFL in average time of possession. The Packers, who had been ranked next-to-last in time of possession, outgained the Bears 130 yards to 9 in the first quarter while controlling the ball for 11 minutes, 45 seconds.

Watson's first touchdown capped a 91-yard drive on Green Bay’s first possession. Two plays later, McKinney's first interception gave Green Bay the ball at Chicago’s 45-yard line.

Lloyd capped Green Bay’s ensuing possession by running over Jaylon Johnson and scoring from 7 yards out on the first play of the second quarter. It was the first career TD run for Lloyd, who scored on a 6-yard reception against the Jets on Sept. 20.

“The things that we had done well in the three victories that we had this year, they didn’t show up today,” Johnson said. “We didn’t take care of the football — five turnovers on offense. We didn’t execute at a very high level in the run game or the passing game. Defensively, we let the ball over our head too many times.”

Chicago cut Green Bay’s lead to 14-7 when D'Andre Swift scored from 1 yard out on fourth-and-goal in the second quarter.

Green Bay regained control after halftime on Watson's second touchdown. Watson was well covered, but he made the catch by reaching his arms over the helmet of safety Dillon Thieneman, whose back was to the play.

Chicago's giveaways prevented the Bears from rallying.

One disappointment for Green Bay was the performance of rookie kicker Trey Smack, who had gone 6 of 7 on field-goal attempts in the Packers' first four games. Smack made a 35-yarder Sunday but missed from 43 and 47 yards and sent an extra-point attempt wide left.

Bears: RB Kyle Monangai (toe, thumb), Chicago's leading rusher, did not play. LB T.J. Edwards left with a hamstring injury in the first half. DL Dayo Odeyingbo (quadriceps), CB Tyrique Stevenson (hamstring) and DB Cam Lewis got hurt in the second half.

Packers: DT Javon Hargrave got hurt late in the fourth quarter. LaFleur said after the game that Hargrave is believed to have an Achilles tendon injury. WR Skyy Moore hurt an ankle in the first half and didn't return. CB Benjamin St-Juste injured a hamstring in the second half.

Bears: At Atlanta next Sunday.

Packers: Host Dallas next Sunday night.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Green Bay Packers' Christian Watson celebrates with fans after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers' Christian Watson celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers' Christian Watson catches a touchdown pass over Chicago Bears' Dillon Thieneman during the second half of an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love throws past Chicago Bears' Austin Booker during the first half of an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)