The Las Vegas Raiders look different.
They weren’t perfect Sunday. They had some trouble on the offensive line and the running game on both sides of the ball.
But, they were. by far, the better, more efficient team Sunday as they beat the Los Angles Chargers 26-14 to improve to 2-0 under new head coach Klint Kubiak. It is the first team the Raiders have started 2-0 since 2021 when they last made the payoffs.
Yes, it’s early, but the Raiders appear to be a much improved team and, just as importantly, a well-coached team by Kubiak and his staff.
They made the plays when they needed and navigated through challenges. These are great signs of a team that continue to win.
Let’s look at some key aspects of the win:
Cousins pushes the ball down the field and delivers:
Last week, in his first game as a Raider, quarterback Kirk Cousins struggled throwing the ball downfield. That wasn’t a problem this week and it appeared to be an emphasis of the Raiders’ offense. Cousins was 8 of 13 on passes of 10-plus yards for 181 yards and all three of his touchdowns came on those throws. He has the co-share of the NFL touchdown passing lead with six touchdowns after two games
Receivers pitch in:
Last week, the Raiders’ wide receivers had nine catches for 83 yards. This week, they had 11 catches for 205 yards and three scores. Tre Tucker led the way with five catches for 119 yards and a score. He had two catches of 40-plus yards. Tucker had 49 receiving yards or less in his last 12 games prior to Sunday. So this production was needed.
Jeanty struggles:
After a game in which he had a 147 combined scrimmage yards last week, Raiders’ running back Ashton Jeanty didn’t do much Sunday. He had just 48 yards on 21 carries and had four catches for 15 yards. He had three drops. Also, after blocking well last week, the Raiders’ offensive line struggled some in run protection. Rookie Mike Washington had just three carries for seven yards.
Free-agent linebackers deliver:
On the first day of free agency in March, the Raiders signed linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker in a span of about five minutes. The college teammates from Georgia were signed to finally give the Raiders difference makers in the middle of the defense. Sunday that was the case. They shared for the team high with 10 tackles each and Dean forced a game-sealing fumble. They’re balling.
SoFi drought over:
The Raiders won at SoFi Stadium since 2020, it’s opening year. This was the Raiders first win there with fans in attendance and the Raiders fans were loud.
Need Bowers back:
Raiders’ star tight end Brock Bowers missed his second game with a knee injury. Kubiak said after the game that Bowers was “very close’ to playing Sunday, so he will likely have a good chance to play next week at the New Orleans Saints. The Raiders are 2-0 without their best offensive player, but they could use him. His starting replacement, Michael Mayer, had a quiet day with three catches for 23 yards. Mayer had nine catches for 55 yards after signing a big contract extension.
Run defense struggles some:
The Chargers had 127 rushing yards and had 49 on one scoring drive. The right side of the Raiders’ defensive line was picked one. After a nice game last week, free-agent signing Kwity Paye had issues in the run game and had just two tackles.
Power of being 2-0:
The Raiders are 2-0 and that’s a big deal. The Raiders have made the playoffs 14 of the previous 19 times they started 2-0. In recent NFL history, teams that started 2-0 make the playoffs 66 percent of the time. The Chargers are two games back at 0-2. The Raiders are 2-0 for the first time since 2021 when they last made the playoffs. Klint Kubiak first Raiders coach to start his career there 2-0 since Bill Callahan in 2002. The Raiders went to the Super Bowl that year.
Chargers are a mess:
They fumbled four times. They threw two interceptions. They bobbled passes. They look like they very much deserve to be 0-2.
Mack again:
Former Raider and current Raider killer Khalil Mack registered his 14th sack against the team that drafted him in 2014 and traded him in 2018. He is tied with the fourth most sacks against the Raiders ever.
Trouble at safety:
The Raiders had safeties Tristian McCollum and Dalton Johnson were inactive so only Jermey Chinn, Treydan Stukes and Isaiah Pola-Mao were active. Stukes was out in the second half as he was being evaulated for a concussion. Pola-Mao took over.
Cody White, grab a roster spot:
Wide receiver Cody White put the Raiders in the lead with a great touchdown grab in the third quarter and then he put the game away with another score in the fourth quarter. He was elevated from the practice squad for the first two games. A player can be elevated three times. It wouldn’t be a surprise if White, who played f0r Kubiak in Seattle, is promoted to the 53-man roster.
Nice response:
After taking the lead at the end of the second quarter, the Raiders had a big opportunity as they got the ball to start the third quarter. But they went three-and-out. Kubiak responded well after the Chargers took the lead on their first second-half possession. He went for it on fourth down from their own 35 and converted. He had a trick play to get get into the red zone then White scored his go-ahead touchdown. It was an impressive answer.
False start frenzy:
Early in the second quarter, Chargers’ tackle Joe Alt was called for back-to-back false stats inside their own 5-yard line. He had another one in the fourth quarter. The Maxx Crosby affect. Crosby only had one tackle, but he was a force by his presence and he caused a late safety as well.
Blown opportunity:
After getting the ball deep in Chargers’ territory on an interception in the first quarter, The Raiders couldn’t score after getting first and goal. The Raiders ran Jeanty four straight times. On fourth and goal, Jeanty was stopped when he bobbled a direct snap at the 1. What a blown opportunity late in the quarter. Fourth-round pick.
Big Chargers’ injuries:
Chargers’ star safety Derwin James left the game in the first quarter with a hand injury. But he did return in the second quarter. Early in the second quarter, standout tight end David Njoku had to be cart off.
Nice streak:
The Raiders haven’t allowed an opening drive score in five straight games dating back to last season. Also, the Raiders held their opponents scoreless in the first quarter of the frist two games for the first time since 2019.
Masses starts and makes big impact:
Fifth-round pick Zeke Masses started at cornerback for the injured Darien Porter. Masses played the final 10 plays of Week 1 when Porter went out with a foot injury. Masses had a big run stuff and then got a bobbled pass for an interception in the first quarter and added one i the fourth quarter. Jermod McCoy, took over for Masses n the second quarter. It was McCoy’s first playing time of his career and his first regular-season action since hurting his knee at Tennessee in 2024. Masses replaced McCoy later in the second quarter. McCoy played some in the second half as well. It will be interesting to see fi that rotation continues if Porter is out next week at New Orleans as well.
Inactive talk:
Second-year linebacker Cody Lindenberg was active Sunday after being inactive last week. He was a core special teamer as a rookie.
