The Raiders came out of SoFi Stadium with a result they hadn’t seen there since 2020, and there’s more to like about the win than just the final number. After two games, Las Vegas is 2-0, and the defense - especially in the secondary - is starting to look like a real strength.
A big reason for that was Hezekiah Masses, the AFC Defensive Player of the Week, who made his presence felt in a variety of ways against the Chargers. Early on, he came flying on a corner blitz in the first quarter and finished with a tackle for loss on Omarion Hampton, showing off the kind of physical pop that stands out for a player his size.
Masses also made the splash plays that turn a strong day into a headline day. On his first interception, Las Vegas disguised man into Cover 3, with Masses working in trail coverage.
He did bite on the underneath stop route, but he recovered, got himself in position, and took advantage when David Njoku bobbled the pass. His second pick came from trail coverage again, this time on a deep hitch against Derius Davis.
Masses stayed tight to Davis’ hip and attacked the ball at the catch point.
It wasn’t a spotless performance, though. The fifth-round pick from Cal still has some learning to do, and he had a couple of assignment mistakes, including the wide-open play to Tre Harris when he was supposed to be in trail coverage but played man instead. His ankle tackle attempts were another issue, especially when they came up empty, and that’s an area where he has to be more consistent to match the tackle-for-loss work he showed early.
Even with those growing pains, the overall picture was encouraging for the Raiders. Rob Leonard’s defensive backfield held up well in coverage, and the first-year defensive coordinator kept mixing things up up front. He leaned on multiple fronts throughout the game and used more even-based looks than he did a week earlier, with a structure that drew a comparison to what Mike Macdonald does in Seattle.
That approach paid off when the pass rush got rolling. According to NFL Pro, Las Vegas posted a 54.8 percent pressure rate, second-best in Week 2 behind the Los Angeles Rams. When the rush gets home like that and the get-off numbers are right, this defense looks a lot more dangerous.
The Chargers tried to keep the Raiders off balance with motion and shifts, and Mike McDaniel’s offense showed plenty of movement, but it didn’t throw Leonard’s unit off course. The pre-snap and post-snap shell movement was also a key part of the picture, helping confuse Herbert and keep Las Vegas competitive against top offenses. That secondary looks capable of keeping the Raiders in games against strong AFC and NFC opponents all season.
On the other side of the ball, Kirk Cousins continues to give Las Vegas exactly what it needs early in the year. Through two games, he has been one of the main reasons the Raiders are 2-0, and Sunday brought the vertical passing game to life.
After being candid about that part of the offense, Cousins finally opened it up with a 40-yard touchdown to Tre Tucker on a post, freezing the weak-side split safety before delivering the throw in stride and leading Tucker open. He followed that with a 42-yard completion in the final seconds of the half, when Tucker adjusted to a ball thrown behind him while Cousins was taking a hit from a looping Tuli Tuipulotu.
That’s the version of Cousins the Raiders can build around: calm, decisive, and quick to sort through what’s in front of him. He works through his reads, takes the first read when the matchup is right, and gets to the checkdown when needed. Against the Chargers, he looked like the ideal game manager, and he helped push Las Vegas into another win.
In Other News...
Raiders Cornerback Battle Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Klint Kubiak had plenty to say about the Raiders young cornerbacks after Week 2, and the conversation around the secondary only got more interesting. Hezekiah Masses turned heads with two interceptions, giving the rookie a real case to keep climbing the depth chart, while Jermod McCoy remains in the middle of his development plan and Darien Porters return gives the staff another evaluation point as the defense keeps sorting out its pieces.
For a Raiders team that is still trying to define roles on the back end, the cornerback battle now has some real texture beyond simple training-camp speculation. Kubiaks praise for Masses suggests the door is open for a bigger opportunity, but the staff is clearly weighing more than just one hot game as it looks at how McCoy grows and how Porter fits back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Depth Chart Is Revealing A Few Big Week 3 Questions
The Raiders have spent the first two weeks giving themselves a little breathing room, and now the depth chart is starting to tell a more interesting story as they prepare for New Orleans. At 2-0 after the win over the Chargers, Las Vegas is no longer just living off early momentum. The discussion has shifted to who is locking down bigger roles, which contributors are driving the offense and defense, and how much the teams improved play on that side of the ball is changing the shape of the roster.
Week 3 brings a few questions that should help clarify the picture, especially as the Raiders continue to sort out player performance and health. Some names are pushing for more responsibility, others are being monitored closely, and the way those pieces fit against the Saints could say plenty about where this team is headed next. For a club that has already shown real progress, the next step is less about the record and more about which depth-chart decisions end up holding when the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Suddenly Look Deeper Than Anyone Expected
The Raiders offseason overhaul is starting to show up in the sort of way that gets attention early in the year. A new coaching staff and a series of roster upgrades have given Las Vegas a sturdier look on both sides of the ball, and the defensive line in particular has been disruptive enough to sit tied for the league lead in sacks. Even with the usual caveats that come with a fresh setup, the group looks deeper and more complete than it did a year ago.
There is still room for the offense to grow, especially with Brock Bowers sidelined for now, though his return should give the unit another useful piece. Kirk Cousins has kept things moving at quarterback and the early signs have been encouraging, but the bigger long-term question is how much better the group can look once Fernando Mendoza eventually takes over under center. For a team that spent the offseason trying to change its outlook, the early returns suggest the ceiling may be higher than many expected. [Read more 🡒]