The Raiders walked out of Sunday’s 45-17 loss to the New England Patriots with more than just a bad defeat. They came away with a pile of warning signs.
What looked like a fast start a couple of weeks ago has started to feel fragile. Las Vegas opened 3-0 with wins over the Dolphins, Chargers, and Saints, but the last two weeks have dragged the club back to earth. If Sunday was any indication, the slide could keep going.
One of the biggest concerns is how the offense holds up when the game tilts against them. The 38-year-old quarterback has been one of the early surprises of the season after two rough years in Atlanta, putting up 1,269 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions while completing 65.1 percent of his throws.
But once the Raiders were forced to chase on Sunday, the limitations showed. He was sacked three times, and if opponents can build a lead and force Las Vegas to keep throwing, pressure can turn into a real problem.
The concern is simple: when rushers get home, Cousins can fold.
And the schedule is about to get brutal.
Five of the next six weeks bring Buffalo, the Rams, the 49ers, the Seahawks, and the Broncos. That’s the kind of run that can undo a promising start in a hurry.
The Raiders’ 3-0 opening mattered because it gave them breathing room before this stretch, but two straight losses have already changed the feel around the team. With Buffalo and Los Angeles up next, and the New York Jets in Week 8 as the only break in that sequence, a four-game skid is very much in play.
This stretch could end up wrecking the Raiders’ 2026 season.
There’s also the issue of who this passing game is leaning on. Right now, it’s mostly Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty.
Even after missing the first two games, Bowers leads the team with 24 catches for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Jeanty sits third on the team in receiving with 22 receptions for 215 yards and two scores.
Against New England, those two were again the focal point, combining for 16 targets, 11 catches, 160 yards, and one touchdown. Cody White and Tre Tucker added nine targets, six grabs, and 85 yards between them.
If Las Vegas survives this part of the schedule and stays in the playoff mix, the front office may need to find another weapon before the trade deadline.
Jeanty’s health is another piece of the puzzle. The 22-year-old running back is clearly not operating at full strength, and it’s showing in his production.
Through five games, he has 88 carries for 291 yards, a 3.3-yard average, and no rushing touchdowns, though he does have 22 catches for 215 yards and two scores. Klint Kubiak said after the game that Jeanty’s injuries are affecting him, making clear the team knows it’s dealing with more than just a bad stretch.
"Yes. Ashton [Jeanty] is beat up," Kubiak said. "It's a testament to how tough he is that he's out there playing today [Sunday] for his teammates."
The catch is obvious. As long as Jeanty keeps going, the bumps and bruises will keep hanging around. The only real way for that to heal is time off, and time off would leave the Raiders even thinner.
In Other News...
Brock Bowers Is Forcing A Bigger Raiders Decision
Brock Bowers keeps pushing the Raiders into a conversation they can no longer avoid. The tight end has become one of the most central pieces of the offense, and his latest production only adds to the sense that Las Vegas has a true cornerstone on its hands. He has already stacked up a second 100-yard receiving game this season, another reminder that his role is no longer just promising - it is essential.
For a franchise trying to sort out its long-term offensive identity, Bowers is making the next step obvious even if the timing is not. His work has placed him alongside some of the most productive young pass-catching tight ends in the league, and it has also raised the stakes for future contract talks. The Raiders do not have to decide everything right now, but the direction this is heading is hard to miss. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Have A Jeanty Concern They Cant Ignore Right Now
Ashton Jeanty was out there in Week 5 against the Patriots even while dealing with multiple injuries, a reminder of how quickly the Raiders have come to lean on the rookies presence. For a team still trying to find its footing, having Jeanty on the field matters beyond the box score, and his willingness to suit up says plenty about how he views his role.
The concern, though, is not whether Jeanty wants to play. It is how much the Raiders can keep asking of him if he is already beat up this early in the season. Klint Kubiak confirmed the injuries and praised the toughness it took to keep going, but for Las Vegas, the larger question now is how long that kind of commitment can hold up if the hits keep coming. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders O-Line Struggles Are Turning Up Heat On One Starting Guard
The Raiders offensive line has been a sore spot through the first five weeks, and the guard play has been at the center of it. Spencer Burford and Jackson Powers-Johnson have both had uneven stretches, while D.J. Glaze and Tyler Linderbaum have provided more stability as the team tries to keep the front from becoming a weekly issue.
Burfords recent run has only sharpened the conversation around that spot, especially after a rough outing against New England that stood out in the grading. If the guards do not settle in soon, the Raiders may have to look harder at other options, including second-year guard Caleb Rogers, who remains a possibility to work his way back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]