The Raiders have put together their best opening stretch in five years, and Sunday in New Orleans offers another clean chance to show that this start is for real. Las Vegas heads into Week 3 with momentum, but also with plenty still to prove as it tries to keep the winning streak rolling against a Saints team that looks a lot like it in some ways.
What stands out most about the Raiders right now is how much change has already paid off. The front office tore things down and rebuilt across the offseason, and the early returns have been encouraging.
Still, this is not a finished product. The Raiders know they’ve come a long way, but they also know they’re nowhere near the end of the process.
That’s part of what makes this matchup so interesting. Las Vegas has shown it can win in different ways already this season.
In Week 1, the ground game helped carry the load. In other moments, the defense has done the heavy lifting, especially in the field-position battle.
That versatility matters, because the Raiders are about to walk into one of the toughest environments they’ll face all year.
The road test comes with the usual noise and disruption, and the Raiders will have to handle that while also continuing to settle into a new offense under a new head coach and coordinators. That kind of work does not get fully finished in the offseason. It gets sharpened in real games, and the Raiders have spent the first two weeks doing exactly that.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins said earlier this week that the offense is still building chemistry as it goes.
“I think it's something you build. I think even the other guys I'm throwing to you're kind of building this rapport as you go through the real thing. OTAs is one thing, training camps are one thing, preseason games are one thing,” Cousins said earlier this week.
“It's all building a foundation, but there's nothing quite like you know real games, and so these last two weeks have been great experience for us as a unit to kind of gather together, and with Brock, you know he's if you will two weeks behind, but great to have him back, and we'll be building that rapport as well. You know every snap we have together this week and on Sunday."
That growing process matters even more against a Saints front four that will try to make life difficult. New Orleans’ offensive line will likely have its own problems dealing with the Raiders’ defensive line, but the Saints will probably lean on the run early and often, then build the passing game from there.
For Las Vegas, the biggest key is simple: the defense has to keep playing at a high level. If that happens, the offense only needs to keep taking steps forward.
The Raiders have shown enough through two games to make that believable. The Saints, of course, will have their own answer ready.
There is also the reality of playing in New Orleans, where strange things have happened before. From the lights going out in the Super Bowl to the referees missing a blatant defensive pass interference that likely would have sent the Saints to a Super Bowl, the Superdome has already produced more than its share of unforgettable moments.
That’s part of why this feels like such a tricky game to call. On paper, the Raiders might be the better team.
But after two wins to open the season, it still feels a little too early to get carried away with that label. This one looks like a toss-up, the kind of matchup that could turn on a few possessions and a handful of key plays.
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For a franchise that has spent plenty of time searching for traction, that kind of internal connection matters as much as any early record. Crosbys read on the room suggests this isnt just about a hot start or a few good breaks, but about a group that is beginning to trust one another in a way that can carry through the grind ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Head Into Week 4 With Two Key Injury Questions
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Head coach Klint Kubiak said Bech is expected to be out for a period, while Jackson Powers-Johnsons groin injury is still being evaluated. For a Raiders team trying to settle into a rhythm, the difference between getting key bodies back and waiting on more answers could shape how they approach the next stretch, even before the full injury picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders 3-0 Start Just Made Kubiaks Call Look Even Bigger
Three games into a season rebuilt by major offseason changes, the Raiders have spent the early going looking more stable than many expected. The 3-0 start has given Klint Kubiak plenty of reasons to like how his team has responded, especially after Las Vegas had to battle back from a second-half deficit in its Week 3 win.
Kubiak also made a lineup call against the Saints that ended up carrying real weight, and tight end Bowers rewarded it with a big afternoon on the ground. Bowers finished with 116 rushing yards and a touchdown, and his impact helped the offense click alongside Mike Mayer, giving Las Vegas another sign that the early-season formula is working. [Read more 🡒]