The Raiders’ 3-0 start has done more than pile up wins. It has given Las Vegas a clear identity this early in the season, and it’s coming from the side of the ball that keeps making the difference.
Sunday’s win over the Saints was the latest example. The game came down to a fourth-and-one stop, and the Raiders pulled out a look that flipped the whole moment.
Their interior defensive linemen dropped into coverage while other defenders came on the rush, creating a different picture than the Saints had seen all day. It caught the offense off guard, led to a turnover, and locked up the victory.
That one snap said a lot about where the Raiders are under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak. The team has already matched last season’s win total, and through three games it has found different ways to get it done. The early results suggest Las Vegas is ahead of schedule in its rebuild, even with plenty still to clean up.
The defense, though, has been the driving force.
Kubiak pointed to the way his staff and players handled the finish against New Orleans, saying, "I think just the whole staff; the whole defensive staff are doing a great job getting on the same page with each other. And nothing was perfect yesterday but found a way to get it done. Great communication on the sideline, and just a credit to the players for finishing the game four turnovers, that was the game right there,” Kubiak said on Monday.
He also made clear how much those takeaways mattered. "We don't win the game without those four turnovers in the fourth quarter.
That was impressive how they kept getting the ball back for us on offense, and it just really changed the whole game. And again, that's a big part of winning and losing, is protecting the ball and taking the ball away.
So, three games into it, long season to go, and every week's a new challenge. We're starting from scratch now back for Kansas City."
That next challenge comes fast. The Chiefs are up next in Week 4, and that matchup should tell a lot about how far the Raiders still have to go. Kansas City will be a major test, especially with Patrick Mahomes on the other sideline.
Kubiak isn’t letting the 3-0 start turn into complacency. He said his team understands what’s in front of it and has enough leadership to stay locked in.
“That's our job. Our job as coaches is to get them dialed in.
The thing about our team is we have a mature team that's very goal oriented and has some strong leadership, and they're not satisfied with what's been done for three games. I know it's a long season, and we know that in order for us to be successful, we just have to just get better every day and have a great Wednesday, Thursday, Friday practice to prepare for the game," Kubiak said.
Through three weeks, the Raiders have looked like a team with a sharper plan, better coaching and a defense that can carry them. Sunday’s fourth-down stop didn’t just finish off the Saints. It underscored what has powered Las Vegas so far, and what will likely keep defining them as the schedule gets harder.
In Other News...
Raiders Just Sent A Clear Message With This Receiver Decision
The Raiders kept busy with their receiver room this week, and the moves say a lot about how quickly this front office is willing to adjust. Las Vegas signed Cody White to the 53-man roster, placed Jack Bech on injured reserve, waived Justin Shorter and added Phillip Dorsett to the practice squad, a set of transactions that reflects how fluid the depth chart has become.
Whites promotion stands out because he has been the teams most productive wideout this season, scoring three touchdowns after arriving from the Seahawks practice squad. General manager John Spytek has made it clear the Raiders are not interested in standing still when a need opens up, and this latest shuffle leaves the receiver group with a new look while the bigger question is how the team plans to keep the position stabilized moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Just Got A Reminder Of Where They Stand With CBS
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The choice quickly drew pushback from fans who felt the Broncos and 49ers had the more meaningful game on the board. It also served as another reminder that Tony Romo remains away from broadcasting duties, leaving CBS to lean on its alternate lineup while its highest-profile booth continues to anchor the games the network deems most appealing. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Suddenly Have A Receiver Opportunity Worth Watching
The Raiders 3-0 start has been built on complementary football, but the passing game still has room to grow, especially on the perimeter. Through the early part of the 2026 season, Las Vegas has not gotten much from its wide receiver group, which makes any potential upgrade at the position worth monitoring as the calendar moves deeper into the fall.
One name now surfacing in that discussion is Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jaguars, whose usage and production have dipped enough to spark trade speculation. The idea is simple enough from the Raiders side: if a talented receiver becomes available and the fit makes sense, Las Vegas could be in the market for help, even if the door on a deal is only just beginning to crack open. [Read more 🡒]