Kirk Cousins kept the Raiders rolling, and Las Vegas kept finding ways to make big plays when it mattered most.
Cousins threw three touchdown passes, Tre Tucker stretched the field all afternoon, and the Raiders used a steady defensive effort plus a few costly Chargers mistakes to leave with a 26-14 win and a 2-0 start. It’s the first time Las Vegas has opened a season with back-to-back victories since 2021.
Tucker was Cousins’ favorite outlet, finishing with five catches for 119 yards. Two of those grabs went for at least 40 yards, including a long touchdown in the first quarter that put the Raiders on the board first.
Cousins finished 19-of-29 for 253 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. With that performance, he became just the second quarterback in franchise history to throw at least three touchdowns in each of the team’s first two games, joining Ken Stabler from 1976.
The Raiders’ defense also delivered in key moments. Omarion Hampton put the ball on the ground on a fourth-quarter run up the middle with the Chargers trailing by three, and Las Vegas cashed in a couple of plays later when Cousins found the end zone for the third time. That score pushed the lead to 10 with 2:59 remaining.
Justin Herbert had a rough day trying to keep Los Angeles in it. He went 15-of-27 for 192 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also accounted for three of the Chargers’ six fumbles, though Los Angeles avoided losing any of them.
Hampton finished with 94 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown.
The game ended with more Chargers self-inflicted damage. After Herbert’s second interception, Joe Alt was flagged for holding in the end zone, resulting in a safety to close out the scoring. Alt had already been penalized three times for false starts, even with the Chargers at home.
For Las Vegas, the win also gave Kubiak a place in franchise history. He became the fourth coach in team history to win each of his first two games, joining Al Davis, John Madden and Bill Callahan.
The Raiders head to New Orleans in Week 3 to face the Saints. The Chargers, now 0-2, stay on the road and meet the Bills next.
In Other News...
Kirk Cousins Just Opened A Raiders Question Fans Cant Ignore
Kirk Cousins first two outings for Las Vegas offered a quick reminder of how fragile an offense can look when the quarterback play swings from week to week. In Week 1, the Raiders leaned on the run game to carry the offense while Cousins labored, but Week 2 told a very different story, with the veteran finding his rhythm and helping unlock a more aggressive passing approach.
The contrast matters because Las Vegas does not need two separate versions of its offense depending on the Sunday mood of its quarterback. When Cousins was sharp, the Raiders were able to push the ball and finish drives, even with the run game taking a step back, and that kind of balance is what the staff will be chasing going forward. The bigger question now is whether the Raiders can count on that version of Cousins to show up with any real consistency. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A Bigger Marvin Harrison Jr. Question Than Fans Realize
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Hondo Carpenter raised the possibility of Harrison, but he also made clear there are real doubts about whether the Arizona Cardinals receiver would be the right gamble for Las Vegas. The issue is not just talent, but whether the fit and the cost line up for a Raiders team trying to build something more stable at the position, rather than chasing a headline move that might not solve the long-term problem. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders May Finally Have Help For Maxx Crosby But One Doubt Remains
Malcolm Koonce gave the Raiders a much-needed glimpse of what the pass rush could look like around Maxx Crosby in Week 2 against the Chargers. In just 28 defensive snaps, he logged 1.5 sacks, three tackles, a forced fumble and multiple pressures, and the bigger takeaway was the way he got off the line compared with the opener. His burst and conditioning stood out, and for a defense looking for another reliable rotational edge presence, it was the kind of performance that turns heads quickly.
The question now is whether Koonce can sustain that level when the opposition gets tougher up front. The Raiders have been searching for help to lighten Crosbys load, and Koonces tape offered reason for optimism, but there is still a noticeable hurdle when he goes against top offensive linemen. Until he starts finishing those rushes more consistently and getting home faster in those matchups, the pass rush remains more of a work in progress than a finished answer. [Read more 🡒]