The Las Vegas Raiders are 2-0, and that alone has changed the mood around the franchise. After the 26-14 win over their division rivals at SoFi Stadium, Raider Nation showed up in full force, and the early-season energy around the team feels different.
That kind of start is hard to ignore for a team in a rebuild, especially when the roster is still uneven. The Raiders are not a finished product, but they are playing competitive football because the coaching has been sharp and the roster has just enough quality to stay in the fight. A 3-0 start with a win in New Orleans is now on the table.
A big reason for that is Kubiak. He looks like the kind of natural leader players want to run through a wall for, and he has already shown a clear feel for putting his guys in positions to succeed.
That has mattered in places like Jacksonville, New England, Minnesota, and Carolina, and it is showing up in Las Vegas now. The Raiders may not be loaded with talent, but coaching has helped them open 2-0 in a way that feels meaningful.
Kubiak also brings something this franchise has been missing: the standard and discipline that come from knowing what it takes to win a Super Bowl. He can scheme up impressive plays, but the bigger point is the leadership. For this team, that alone is a major reason to think it can keep outpacing expectations early in the season.
On defense, the front seven has had its issues. Against the Chargers’ run game last weekend, there were missed tackles and too many poor run fits. Even so, the back end has been the strength of the unit.
The secondary has been a real bright spot, built on a mix of young talent and veterans who are holding up well. Rookie free safety Treydan Stukes has one interception, while rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses made two picks against Justin Herbert.
Eric Stokes and Taron Johnson have both started the year well, and Jeremy Chinn is continuing to grow into a major piece at safety. That group has the kind of playmaking ability that can swing a game or two, and the ceiling there looks high.
Offensively, Kirk Cousins has given the Raiders a steadier hand than they’ve had in recent years. He is the first Raiders quarterback since Ken Stabler to throw three touchdowns in each of his first two games, and while he is not perfect, he has been efficient and composed. There are still moments that explain why the Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall, but Cousins’ experience and veteran control give this offense a chance to function against tougher opponents.
Cousins is what he is at this stage of his career, but that still means something. He can keep the offense on schedule without needing to play like a one-man rescue mission, and that has already produced better results than the Raiders have gotten in the past. If they turn in strong performances against New Orleans and Kansas City, the conversation around this team is going to get even more interesting.
In Other News...
Raiders Cornerback Battle Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Klint Kubiak had plenty to say about the Raiders young cornerbacks after Week 2, and the conversation around the secondary only got more interesting. Hezekiah Masses turned heads with two interceptions, giving the rookie a real case to keep climbing the depth chart, while Jermod McCoy remains in the middle of his development plan and Darien Porters return gives the staff another evaluation point as the defense keeps sorting out its pieces.
For a Raiders team that is still trying to define roles on the back end, the cornerback battle now has some real texture beyond simple training-camp speculation. Kubiaks praise for Masses suggests the door is open for a bigger opportunity, but the staff is clearly weighing more than just one hot game as it looks at how McCoy grows and how Porter fits back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Depth Chart Is Revealing A Few Big Week 3 Questions
The Raiders have spent the first two weeks giving themselves a little breathing room, and now the depth chart is starting to tell a more interesting story as they prepare for New Orleans. At 2-0 after the win over the Chargers, Las Vegas is no longer just living off early momentum. The discussion has shifted to who is locking down bigger roles, which contributors are driving the offense and defense, and how much the teams improved play on that side of the ball is changing the shape of the roster.
Week 3 brings a few questions that should help clarify the picture, especially as the Raiders continue to sort out player performance and health. Some names are pushing for more responsibility, others are being monitored closely, and the way those pieces fit against the Saints could say plenty about where this team is headed next. For a club that has already shown real progress, the next step is less about the record and more about which depth-chart decisions end up holding when the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Suddenly Look Deeper Than Anyone Expected
The Raiders offseason overhaul is starting to show up in the sort of way that gets attention early in the year. A new coaching staff and a series of roster upgrades have given Las Vegas a sturdier look on both sides of the ball, and the defensive line in particular has been disruptive enough to sit tied for the league lead in sacks. Even with the usual caveats that come with a fresh setup, the group looks deeper and more complete than it did a year ago.
There is still room for the offense to grow, especially with Brock Bowers sidelined for now, though his return should give the unit another useful piece. Kirk Cousins has kept things moving at quarterback and the early signs have been encouraging, but the bigger long-term question is how much better the group can look once Fernando Mendoza eventually takes over under center. For a team that spent the offseason trying to change its outlook, the early returns suggest the ceiling may be higher than many expected. [Read more 🡒]