The Raiders have opened the season with two eye-catching wins, and now they get a chance to make the start feel even bigger. A victory over the New Orleans Saints would push Las Vegas to 3-0 for the first time since the 2021 campaign, and it would say plenty about Klint Kubiak’s early impact.
There’s already been a lot to like. The Raiders opened by dismantling the Miami Dolphins, then followed it up with a road win over the Los Angeles Chargers that turned on a dominant second half. Through two weeks, things have looked sharp under Kubiak.
This matchup carries an extra layer because Kubiak knows the Saints well. He served as their offensive coordinator in 2024, beginning that season with an offense that flashed early before settling back down.
That’s why a win here would mean more than just another notch in the standings. It would strengthen the idea that the Raiders may have found their coach of the future, and that this team could be closer to contention than expected.
None of that means a 3-0 start automatically turns Las Vegas into an AFC West favorite or a playoff lock. But it would still matter. A win would make Kubiak the first rookie head coach since Mike Macdonald in 2024 to start 3-0, and it would add to the buzz around what he’s building.
It would also help establish something Raiders fans have been waiting a long time to see: stability. The idea isn’t that Kubiak is suddenly going to turn the franchise into a finished product, but the foundation of a successful team would start to take shape.
The Raiders are also facing what the source describes as their first true road test this afternoon, even if Raiders fans often pack SoFi Stadium and make it feel more like a quasi-home game. The Saints may not be the same force they once were, but they’re still a real test, and one Kubiak has to handle.
That’s what gives this game its weight. A win would reinforce the sense that Kubiak is the bright young mind who can finally steady the franchise and make it more competitive than it’s been in at least the last half-decade.
For a fan base that has spent years being the punchline, there’s something appealing about the way this season has started. The Raiders suddenly look like they might be the ones doing the bullying for a change, with Kubiak as the face of it.
A loss wouldn’t blow anything up. But a win would send a louder message: this team is serious about contending, and serious about doing it sooner than anyone thought.
In Other News...
Raiders 3-0 Push May Depend On One Saints Weakness
The Raiders head into their matchup with New Orleans looking for a third straight win, and the path could run straight through Tyler Shough. Las Vegas has already made a habit of leaning on pressure under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, and that approach makes sense here against a quarterback who has spent the season under constant duress.
Shough has been the leagues most pressured passer so far and has taken eight sacks in two games, a combination that has helped expose how much trouble he can get into when the pocket breaks down. For the Raiders, the challenge is turning that weakness into the kind of disruption that can shape the game, because their chase for 3-0 may hinge on whether Leonards fronts and blitzes keep forcing mistakes. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Head Into Saints Game With Key Availability Still Unsettled
The final injury report is in, and the Raiders are still sorting through a few moving pieces ahead of their Week 3 trip to face the Saints. Several players were listed as limited or questionable, but the expectation is that most will be available, giving Las Vegas a chance to keep some continuity on both sides of the ball while it heads into another early-season test.
The one clear absence is rookie safety Treydan Stukes, who remains out with a concussion, and veteran Isaiah Pola-Mao is set to start in his place. Between that shuffle in the secondary and the possibility of Brock Bowers returning, there is still a fair amount for the Raiders to monitor before kickoff, especially with Klint Kubiak and Kirk Cousins both pointing to how important the defensive response will be in New Orleans. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A 3-0 Test Against A Saints Wrinkle They Must Solve
The Raiders head into Week 3 with a chance to build on a 3-0 start, but the Saints present a specific kind of problem that has already shown up on film. Under coordinator Brandon Staley, New Orleans has leaned into a blitzing concept against teams that operate from under-center looks, and it helped create pressure problems for the Ravens. For Las Vegas, that means this is not just another early-season test, but a matchup that could hinge on how well the offense handles a wrinkle designed to disrupt timing before a play can fully develop.
One possible answer is to lean into personnel that can help steady the picture and give the offense more flexibility. The Raiders may turn to fullback Connor Heyward in 21 personnel, a setup that could help them counter the Saints pressure looks while opening up more options around the formation. It is the kind of adjustment that does not guarantee clean answers, but it does give Las Vegas a path to keep its offense from getting boxed in by a defense that is clearly looking to force one. [Read more 🡒]