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Players to Watch: Patriots vs. Raiders
Patriots.com's Mike Dussault shares his players to watch ahead of the Patriots Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, September 27, 2020.


Cam Newton, QB: After throwing for nearly 400 yards against the Seahawks, there's no question this is going to be a fun season watching the rejuvenated quarterback in the Patriots system. He'll be must-watch every week, and a combined effort of the ground attack from the Dolphins game and the air attack from the Seattle game will be something he'll hopefully put together at some point.

N'Keal Harry, WR: Harry had a bit of a breakout game against the Seahawks and now will try to continue that momentum against a young Raiders secondary. How far Harry ascends could set the ceiling for the Patriots offense, he's that important.

Kyle Dugger, DB: Dugger saw a big jump in snaps in Week 2 and did nothing but impress, even in a losing effort. The athletic defensive back is playing a number of roles, including taking a kickoff return, and should continue to see his role expand.

JoeJuan Williams, DB: With tight end Darren Waller being the Raiders most dangerous threat, Williams could be part of the coverage team tasked with slowing him down. The second-year defensive back has good size to match up with Waller. Stopping him will be a critical part of the gameplan.

Nick Folk, K: With two missed field goals in the first two games, all eyes will be on Folk's every kick in this game. How long will the Patriots stomach the kicker costing them points on the scoreboard? The pressure will continue to pile up on Folk to be perfect.

Derek Carr, QB: Carr has yet to throw an interception in leading the Raiders to a 2-0 start, while completing 73.5 percent of his passes. The Patriots will need to get to Carr and get him uncomfortable for the first time this season if they're to slow down the Raiders attack.

Josh Jacobs, RB: Jacobs has a breakout rookie year in 2019, and while he's averaging just 3.5 yards-per-attempt through two games this season after averaging 4.5 last season, he's still a hard runner who has three touchdowns already. The Patriots run defense will get a tough challenge from Jacobs, who is a big part of what the Raiders do on offense.

Henry Ruggs, WR: Ruggs was the object of desire for many Patriots fans in this year's draft but the Raiders made him the first receiver selected. He has four catches for 59 yards through two games and is also a threat to carry the ball. The Patriots defense will have to be aware of Ruggs' deep speed.

Darren Waller, TE: There's little debate that Waller is the Raiders most dangerous weapon, as he has 18 catches in two games and leads the team by a wide margin. The Patriots have some options to deal with Waller, with Adrian Phillips, Kyle Dugger and JoeJuan Williams all having the necessary physicality to deal with the 6'6", 260 pound Waller.

Johnathan Abram, S: Abram is a hard-hitting safety that leads the Raiders in tackles and is sure to be very involved in almost every play. The Patriots should look to take advantage of his aggressive play style and will need to be aware of him on every snap.