The Las Vegas Raiders are 3-0, sitting tied with the Kansas City Chiefs atop the AFC West, and Kurt Cousins has already piled up nine touchdown passes. That kind of start usually buys a team some breathing room.
Stephen A. Smith isn’t buying in.
On a recent episode of ESPN’s First Take, Smith made it clear he’s still waiting for the other shoe to drop when it comes to Las Vegas.
“Are we really sitting here on national television talking about a Kurt Cousins-led team being good, and we should be so flattered with what we’re seeing?” Smith said.
“Are you really kidding me? With Kurt Cousins, you just wait for it.
You just wait for it. Nine touchdowns in the first three games, three touchdowns in each game.
We really think that’s going to last?”
Smith pointed to the Raiders’ upcoming schedule as the reason he’s not ready to stamp them as legitimate just yet.
“Are you really going to look at the Las Vegas Raiders and say, because of what you see, they’re good? You know what, call me at the end of October; who do they have in October?
Don’t they have the Bills? Don’t they have the Chiefs?
Don’t they have the Rams in October? Why don’t you call me before Thanksgiving and let’s have that discussion.”
He also made it plain that he doesn’t trust Cousins, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, and he even cast doubt on number one draft pick Fernando Mendoza.
“Here’s the reality: nobody expected a damn thing from the Raiders,” Smith added.
If Smith sees a reason to credit the Raiders’ early surge, it’s not the quarterback. It’s new head coach Clint Kubiak.
“Let’s give credit where credit is due to Clint Kubiak because clearly the man can coach,” Smith added. “Gotta be doing something right.
The man hasnt lost his last 13 games; they won the last 10 games in Seattle, including the Super Bowl championship with him as offensive coordinator, and now he’s the head coach, and they’ve won three straight. The man is on a 13-game winning streak, so if you want to sit up here and rave, let’s rave about him.”
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