The Belichick Ban, McDaniels Revenge Game And What To Know Ahead Of Week 1: Patch Patriots Roundup

FOXBORO, MA — Week 1 is here for the New England Patriots, as the season gets underway at Gillette Stadium for the Pats at 1 p.m. against the Las Vegas Raiders.

There are plenty of storylines ahead of kickoff, and plenty of questions too. Can Mike Vrabel change the culture in New England? Will Drake Maye show growth? Will a revamped offensive roster help Maye show that growth?

Patch will be rounding up storylines ahead of games each week during the NFL season. Welcome back to the Patch Pats Roundup.

The Belichick Ban

As is traditional in the football schedule, college football always kicks off a week or two ahead of the NFL slate. This year, that includes former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, whose North Carolina Tar Heels didn't put on the greatest showing — generously — against the TCU Horned Frogs on Labor Day.

Though on-field results come first and foremost for Belichick, there was strange news coming out after the game from multiple sources.

John Middlekauff was the first to share that Belichick and North Carolina reportedly banned Patriots scouts from Carolina practices. ESPN confirmed the report from their own sources.

It's a strange move from Belichick and team, whose elevator pitch ahead of the year was that UNC would be the NFL's "33rd Team."

McDaniels Not Viewing Raiders Matchup As Revenge Game

Josh McDaniels took his talents to the AFC West for a second time during his last head coaching stint. Unfortunately for McDaniels — and the pockets of Raiders ownership — the second go-around as head coach ended much like the first.

Still, SB Nation's Brian Hines writes, McDaniels doesn't see Sunday's matchup as a traditional revenge game.

The Patriots' offensive coordinator returns to New England this year to try and lead Drake Maye into a progressive second season after he showed flashes of elite talent in year one behind an awful offensive line.

McDaniels' comments from a Thursday press conference can be viewed here.

What To Watch

In the run-up to the NFL Draft, we talked about what the Patriots needed to address as a team, and that stands to be true as the team heads into Week 1.

The two biggest factors for positive progression for the Patriots are on the offensive side of the ball, and they don't have all that much to do with Drake Maye.

Vrabel and team will hope to develop the offensive line to protect Maye, and hope that someone in addition to wide receiver Stefon Diggs can step up as a long-term skill position option for its quarterback.

Look for left tackle Will Campbell and two of wide receivers Kyle Williams, Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte.

Oh yeah, and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson should be a ton of fun to watch.

How To Watch

Kickoff: Sunday, 1 p.m.

TV: CBS

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub