The Las Vegas Raiders have a 2-0 start for the first time since 2021, and Sunday’s 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers looked like more than a fast start. It looked like a team with a plan.
Klint Kubiak’s group handled a divisional opponent and, according to The Athletic’s Sam Warren, it marked the franchise’s first 2-0 beginning in five years. It also put Kubiak in rare company: he became just the fourth full-time head coach in Raiders history to win his first two games, joining Al Davis, John Madden and Bill Callahan.
The offense did most of the heavy lifting. Kirk Cousins went 19-of-29 for 253 yards and three touchdowns, with the passing game doing exactly what a bridge-quarterback setup needs it to do. Cody White was a major part of that, catching two scores from 13 and 11 yards, while Tre Tucker added a 40-yard touchdown.
Matt Gay’s 59-yard field goal right before halftime helped send Las Vegas into the break with a 10-7 lead, and the defense kept turning the game in the Raiders’ favor from there. The unit sacked Justin Herbert three times, picked him off twice and forced four fumbles.
The one area that still needs work is the run game. Las Vegas managed just 57 yards on 29 carries, including kneel-downs, leaving the backfield and offensive line as the biggest depth-chart question for now.
Even the contract picture adds to the appeal. Cousins’ deal is set up as a low-risk bridge, with the Falcons covering $8.7 million of his 2026 salary while the Raiders pay $1.3 million, along with a guaranteed $10 million roster bonus next March. That setup keeps Las Vegas flexible for future roster moves.
And if Cousins keeps producing like this, the two-year, $80 million option for 2027 and 2028, which was expected to be a long shot, could turn into something worth serious discussion.
In Other News...
Raiders Get An Early Opening Against A Shorthanded Chargers Defense
The Raiders are getting a first look at a Chargers team that is already dealing with some lineup uncertainty on both sides of the ball heading into Week 2. Los Angeles has had to shuffle pieces because of injuries, and that has opened the door for changes up front and in the secondary, including Kayode Awosika settling in at left guard and Tony Jefferson projected to start at safety.
From Las Vegas perspective, the bigger issue is how much the Chargers can clean up on defense after a rough opener. With key players either questionable or ruled out, the matchup gives the Raiders a chance to test a group that is still trying to settle its rotations and restore some stability before the division race gets any deeper. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Could Catch Chargers At The Perfect Time Up Front
The Chargers are already dealing with some early turbulence up front, and that matters to the Raiders as they look down the AFC West schedule. Los Angeles brought in Odafe Oweh in a trade, then moved on from him in free agency and tried to fill that spot by drafting first-round pick Akheem Mesidor, but the early returns have not matched the hope that came with the move.
For Las Vegas, that makes this a matchup worth watching closely. A front that is still trying to find its footing can be vulnerable if the pass rush does not hold up and the offensive line keeps giving ground, which is exactly the kind of opening the Raiders would love to exploit while the Chargers are working to avoid an early-season hole. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Young Talent Suddenly Carries Big Weight Against The Chargers
Week 2 brings a little more clarity, and a lot more pressure, for a Raiders roster that is leaning on younger pieces sooner than expected. Tre Tucker, Tonka Hemingway and Hezekiah Masses all move into sharper focus against the Chargers, and their roles matter even more with injuries shaping what both teams can and cannot do. The Raiders got a decent look at how those players fit in Week 1, and now the challenge is whether that early usage translates into something sturdier in a divisional game that tends to punish any hesitation.
For Las Vegas, the matchup is less about waiting for proven names to carry the load and more about whether emerging talent can hold up when the game plans get tighter. Tuckers speed, Hemingways interior work and Masses presence all sit at the center of that conversation, especially with the availability questions on both sidelines potentially opening doors in different spots. What the Raiders learn here could say a lot about how much trust they can place in that young group, and how quickly they need that trust to grow. [Read more 🡒]