The New England Patriots’ season of redemption under new head coach Mike Vrabel got off to a slow start Sunday, when Vrabel’s squad submitted quietly to the Las Vegas Raiders led by coach Pete Carroll — who coached the Patriots from 1997 through 1999 leading them to two playoff appearances as the last head coach before the Bill Belichick era.

At Gillette Stadium Sunday afternoon, Carroll exacted a measure of revenge for his firing 26 years ago as his Raiders defense stifled the Patriots, holding them scoreless in the second half except for a garbage time field goal with 19 seconds left in the game to make the final score 20-13.

“The New England Patriots were supposed to feel different in 2025 with new head coach Mike Vrabel replacing Jerod Mayo,” wrote Clutch Points analyst Troy Finnegan on Sunday. “Despite a decent start, Vrabel’s Patriots looked a whole lot like Mayo’s Patriots.”

Stefon Diggs Provides a Positive Takeaway

There were, however, a few somewhat positive takeaways for the Patriots, and one in particular was wide receiver Stefon Diggs, a two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl pick signed to a three-year, $69 million free agent contract in March.

While Diggs did not make a major impact on the outcome of the game, the mere fact that he was able to play just 10 months after tearing the ACL in his right knee was an encouraging sign for the Patriots.

Six Catches For Diggs

On a day when no one on the offensive side of the ball for New England turned in a breakout performance, and second-year quarterback Drake Maye was disappointing at best — receiving a grade of C- from NBC Sports Boston Patriots insider Phil Perry and a D+ from Perry’s colleague Tom E. Curran — Diggs did everything that was asked of him by Maye and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, catching six of seven targeted passes for 57 yards.

Diggs since last year has been in a dating relationship with hip hop superstar Cardi B, but they have mostly limited their public interactions to social media exchanges, and that is how the 32-year-old rapper whose given name is Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar sent a strong message of encouragement to her NFL boyfriend in his Patriots debut.

Cardi B Cheers Diggs From in Front of TV

Cardi B did to attend the Sunday game, but at least from her Instagram account she watched it on TV, and posted “Come on Eight!!!!!” as caption to a pic of her television screen.

“Eight” of course refers to Diggs, who claimed the No. 8 jersey after the Patriots released its previous owner, linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, in March.

Diggs at the time said that he chose the number because in Biblical numerology, “8” symbolizes “new beginnings,” and his move to the Patriots opened a new chapter of his life and career.

He could have, but did not also mention that his still-new relationship with Cardi B was also a “new beginning” for him. They made their public debut as a couple in May when they sat courtside at Madison Square Garden for a New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics playoff game.

They have since interacted publicly only through social media, most recently last week when Diggs commented “That’s a hardworking woman” on one of the rapper’s IG posts.