Jon Gruden isn’t shy about what he sees from Kirk Cousins right now.
After the Las Vegas Raiders moved to 3-0 with a 35-27 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the former NFL head coach said Cousins has been operating at a level that belongs in the MVP conversation. Gruden made the remarks Monday on Barstool Sports, while also pointing out that No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza still hasn’t taken the field.
Cousins backed up the praise with another sharp performance in New Orleans. He completed 22 of 33 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns as the Raiders rallied from a 27-22 deficit entering the fourth quarter. Las Vegas then flipped the game with four takeaways in the final period.
Maxx Crosby’s fumble recovery set up a 4-yard touchdown pass to Cody White, and Hezekiah Masses’ interception led to another 4-yard scoring strike, this one to Brock Bowers. Bowers finished with 10 catches for 116 yards. Saints quarterback Tyler Shough threw four touchdown passes, but he also lost two fumbles and was intercepted once.
Gruden said the quarterback’s production is tied closely to the structure around him.
"Kirk Cousins is playing like an MVP quarterback," he said. "And it just goes to show you how important the system of offense is.
He loves the offense. He fits the offense."
Cousins has now thrown three touchdown passes in each of the Raiders’ first three games. Gruden said no Las Vegas quarterback since Kenny Stabler in 1976 had done that in the first two games, and Cousins extended the run Sunday to make franchise history.
The Raiders now turn to a major AFC West matchup at home against the unbeaten Chiefs on Sunday. Las Vegas enters at 3-0, while Kansas City is also 3-0. New Orleans, now 1-2, will host the Falcons on Monday night.
First-year coach Klint Kubiak has the Raiders unbeaten without Mendoza, a Heisman Trophy winner, taking a snap. The franchise has cycled through six head coaches over the past six seasons and has not won a playoff game since the 2002 season.
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Raiders Win Streak Cant Hide One Defensive Concern
The Raiders third straight win came with plenty to like from a roster that is starting to find its rhythm. Kicker Gay supplied nine points in the first half, linebacker Dean helped keep the Saints from getting comfortable on the ground, and tight end Bowers kept the offense moving with seven catches for 87 yards before halftime.
Still, the tape left at least one uneasy note for a defense that has otherwise benefited from the winning run. Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao had a rough afternoon against New Orleans, and rookie Masses also ran into problems in coverage on Chris Olave, a reminder that even while the results are stacking up, there are still vulnerable spots for opponents to attack. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Just Exposed One Problem That Could Matter Vs Chiefs
Las Vegas kept its momentum rolling with a 35-27 win over the Saints, and the third straight victory has made the early shift under Klint Kubiak look increasingly real. Brock Bowers remains the kind of weapon the offense can lean on, giving the Raiders a centerpiece who changes how defenses have to play them and helps keep the whole unit moving with more confidence.
Even with the offense trending up, the defensive side still has a wrinkle worth watching as the schedule tightens. Isaiah Pola-Maos performance against New Orleans spotlighted a spot that opponents can press, and the possible return of Treydan Stukes adds another layer to how Las Vegas may try to patch things before a matchup with the Chiefs brings a much sharper test. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Just Made An Early Statement Fans Will Bring Into Chiefs Week
A fast start to the season can change the mood around a team quickly, and the Raiders just gave theirs a little more staying power. Las Vegas beat the Saints 35-27 to move to 3-0, a mark the franchise has reached only one other time since 2002, and it did so after digging out from a third-quarter deficit.
Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes, Brock Bowers made his 2026 debut with a touchdown, and the game wound up matching an NFL record with six scoring catches by tight ends. The bigger takeaway for the Raiders is what came after the break, when they flipped the game by forcing four fourth-quarter turnovers, the kind of surge that will linger once Chiefs week arrives. [Read more 🡒]