The Raiders head to New Orleans on Sunday with a 2-0 record, a defense that has looked far better than it did a year ago, and a quarterback who already feels central to how this thing is working. The Saints, fresh off their own surprising win over the Baltimore Ravens, are in the same early-season spot: still sorting out who they are, but confident enough to think they can make this a real test.
That’s what makes Week 3 interesting. Two wins don’t define a season, especially not in a 17-game league, but they do give a team something to build on. For Las Vegas, the first two weeks have pointed toward a clearer formula, and Sunday is another chance to see what the 2026 Raiders look like under Klint Kubiak.
The biggest edge starts up front, where the Raiders’ defensive line has been the engine behind one of the league’s better early defenses. That group has the power to wreck an offense before it gets rolling, and that matters even more against a Saints offensive line that is already banged up. If Las Vegas can hold up against the run and keep pressuring the passer the way it has through two weeks, it will be in strong shape.
That challenge gets more complicated because Shough brings a quick release and a receiving group that can make a defense work. The Saints have the best set of pass-catchers the Raiders have faced so far, which means the Raiders’ front won’t be able to rely on pressure alone. But if the line does its job, it could keep Shough from settling in and force New Orleans into longer, harder-down situations.
Behind that front, Las Vegas’ young secondary is looking for a second straight game that proves the last one wasn’t a fluke. Darien Porter’s return should help. If the Raiders really are different on defense, this is the kind of road game where that can show up again.
On the other side, everything still runs through Kirk Cousins. Quarterback is always the most important spot, but his role has been especially important in this offense because of how familiar he is with Kubiak’s thinking and playcalling. That connection has helped Las Vegas get off to a much smoother start than it would have had without him.
The Chargers showed one way to bother this offense: crowd Ashton Jeanty and make Cousins carry the load. The Saints will almost certainly try the same thing. So far, Cousins and the Raiders have handled that challenge twice, but New Orleans will try to force the same kind of answer.
The environment will make that job harder. Saints fans will be loud while the game is still competitive, and communication will be more difficult than it was in Week 2. That makes Cousins even more important, especially with a Saints defense that will test the Raiders’ offensive line over and over.
Cousins said earlier this week, "I don't know if it's toughness so much as just reading with your feet. We talk about timing, and you take your drop that's the drop for that play, and then you go with your feet where they take you. In that case, I was just kind of reading with my feet and where my eyes took me, and if I had to just chuck and duck a little bit, that's what I got to do,” Cousins said earlier this week.
He also added, "Some of it, too is happening so fast, you're just playing off instinct, and many times it's just a trained instinct that you have, and you just play off that. But you have to be smart. You're not looking for those hits, but you also understand they're going to be a part of playing the game."
That’s the balancing act for Las Vegas in Week 3: let the defense set the tone, protect Cousins, and keep the Saints from turning this into a game where the Raiders have to chase.
In Other News...
Raiders Rally Around Aidan OConnell During A Heartbreaking Family Moment
Aidan OConnells off-field reality took center stage this week, as the Raiders quarterback shared the news on social media that his father, Jim OConnell, has died. OConnells post included a tribute to his dad and a request for prayers as his family navigates the loss, a deeply personal moment that came with the team still in the middle of its season and OConnell working as Las Vegas third-string quarterback.
For a player who has already been through family hardship before, the response around him has been immediate, with teammates and other players around the league offering support. In a sport that can move quickly from one week to the next, this is the kind of moment that pulls everything back to what matters most, and the Raiders now face the human side of a difficult stretch for one of their own. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A Secondary Problem They Can't Ignore Vs Saints
Treydan Stukes status has become one of the quieter but more important issues for the Raiders heading into Week 3. He left the Week 2 game early with a concussion, and he has not practiced since as he works through concussion protocol, leaving Las Vegas with a real question in the secondary before facing the New Orleans Saints.
The uncertainty matters because the Raiders are already weighing defensive adjustments if he cannot go. That kind of shuffle can ripple through the back end of the defense, especially this early in the season, and it puts added pressure on the coaching staff to find a workable answer before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Tonka Hemingway Has A Big Chance To Force The Raiders Hand
Tonka Hemingway has spent the early part of the 2026 season making himself harder to ignore. The Raiders defensive tackle has shown steady improvement in run defense, pass rushing and even coverage, while bouncing around multiple spots on the interior line. For a team still sorting out the best answers up front, that kind of versatility has real value, especially with a favorable Week 3 matchup against the Saints interior offensive line on deck.
The bigger question now is whether Hemingway can turn those flashes into something the Raiders have to seriously account for beyond one good stretch. His recent performances have put him in position to make a stronger case for a larger role, and the context around him only helps: the more he can affect plays inside, the harder it becomes for Las Vegas to keep treating him as just another rotational piece. Week 3 could be the kind of game that shifts the conversation. [Read more 🡒]