Welcome to Season 12, Episode 6 of the Unconventional Preview, a serious yet lighthearted, nostalgia-tinted look at the Patriots’ weekly matchup . . .
Coming off the worst back-to-back losses in Bill Belichick’s 24 seasons as coach, the Patriots now face the team against whom they suffered their most absurd loss during their ongoing backslide.
In Week 15 last season, the Patriots lost to the Raiders, 30-24, to drop to 7-7. The Patriots led by a touchdown with less than a minute left . . . and somehow managed to lose the game in regulation.