FOXBORO, Massachusetts (AFP) – Rex Burkhead scored three touchdowns and Bill Beelischick became the third coach in NFL history to score 275 regular season wins in the New England Patriots’ 36-20 victory over the Las Vegas Riders on Sunday.

Sonny Michael finished nine tripods at 117 yards. Burkhead earned a two-step walker and received an 11-yard TD.

Cam Newton had 17 of 28 passes for 162 yards, landing and interception. Chilek Calhoun had a forced bump and stumbled to score a goal.

The Patriots have won their last six encounters with the Raiders and improved to 47–9 in regular season matches after losing. Raiders coach John Groden dropped to 0-3 against Beleshik.

Derek Carr finished 24 out of 32 for 261 yards and two TDs in Las Vegas. But he experienced an improvement that resulted in a New England field goal and a late touchdown when he lost the ball in the finish area and Calhoun recovered. Josh Jacobs also had confusion.

Las Vegas opened the season with at least 34 points in their first two games with six touchdowns in the red. The Raiders were also second in the NFL, converting 57 percent of the third touchdown.

They only went 2 to 5 in the red and 3 out of 9 on the third Sunday.

Related: Raiders are investigating by the NFL for possible breaching the COVID-19 protocol

Fouls were stagnant early on as the two teams struggled to get into a groove due to shifts and poor third-place performances.

Things changed for the Patriots in their first drive in the third quarter when Michel, who struggled for the first two matches, sprinted from 38 yards.

A 15-yard pass from Newton to Burkhead put the Patriots into the red. Three plays later, Burkhead capped the leadership with a 5-yard TD to extend New England’s lead to 20–10.

After both teams exchanged field goals, the Patriots took over with 11:22 remaining and ate over five minutes of the hour with 10 runs and 86 yards capped with a 5-yard TD dive by Burkhead.

The Fast and the Furious

It took until the last minute of the first half for both teams to reach the finish area.

Leading 6-3, Newton found Burkhead over the middle for a short pass, and carried it the rest of the way to jump 11 yards down 34 seconds before the match.

After kick-off, the Raiders got help from an intervention invitation to Stephon Gilmore to reach the Patriots. Carr later played with Hunter Renfrow to complete 26 yards to reach 1. He then found a narrow end for Foster Moreau for TD 1 yard to reduce New England’s lead to 13-10.

Moving parts

Both teams were missing at first.

The Invaders played without the entry-level express receiver Henry Rogers III due to knee and hamstring injuries. Play was also sidelined from the right to Trent Brown (calf) and full back Nick Kwiatkowski (pectoralis). Left goalkeeper Richie Incineto (Achilles tendon) went into injured reserve on Wednesday. Agholor started in the receiver, rookie John Simpson in the left guard and Denzelle Good on the right.

The Patriots were center stage David Andrews and rising full back Josh O’Shea after laying both on Saturday. James White was also knocked out for the second game in a row after his father’s death. Joe Thoney moved to the center, rookie Michael Unueno started in the left guard.

Injuries

Raiders: Cornerback Damon Arnette left with a thumb injury.

next one

Raiders: Host Buffalo next Sunday.

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