Klint Kubiak has reached the point where Brock Bowers making a tough grab barely moves the needle. The Las Vegas Raiders coach said after Sunday’s 38-33 win over the New York Jets that there’s really only one part of Bowers’ game that still surprises him.
“It surprises me when he doesn't catch it,” Kubiak said after the game, according to Raiders reporter Levi Edwards.
That line fit the way Bowers has been rolling. Against New York, he caught seven passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, helping Las Vegas erase a nine-point hole and end a four-game skid.
The first score came right away. Bowers hauled in a 12-yard touchdown from Kirk Cousins on the Raiders’ opening drive, giving Las Vegas an early boost. He found the end zone again after halftime as the Raiders clawed back into the game.
Bowers’ seven catches were part of a productive day for Cousins, who finished with 247 passing yards and three touchdowns.
The tight end also hit a notable milestone in the win, passing Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka for the most receiving yards by a non-wide receiver through his first 35 NFL games.
And this wasn’t some one-off explosion. Through six games this season, Bowers has topped 70 receiving yards in every appearance, a level of consistency that has made him central to the Raiders’ passing attack.
Michael Mayer chipped in as well, finishing with five catches for 53 yards and giving Cousins another steady target. But Bowers was the headliner again, and for Kubiak, that’s starting to feel normal.
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Eric Stokes was at the center of it, as the Jets kept testing the cornerback and found enough success to keep their offense moving. He was not the only one having a rough day in the back end, either, with other Raiders defenders also struggling to slow down New York's passing game. The victory matters in the standings, but the tape will give this coaching staff plenty to sort through before the next game. [Read more 🡒]