The Raiders came out of Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs with something they can’t ignore: a fresh reminder that young players are going to get tested fast in this league.
Las Vegas entered the season with big plans for the rookies and second-year players it added over the past two drafts, and after four games and a 3-1 start, that approach is already being put to the test. The early wins gave the Raiders some breathing room. Kansas City took some of it back.
Against Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and a Chiefs group with far more big-game experience, the mistakes showed up. That’s the part of a young roster that can’t be hidden forever, even when the record looks good. Now the Raiders turn to a road matchup against the New England Patriots, but first they have to sort through what Sunday exposed.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins put the focus on the daily work that comes before kickoff.
“All I know is to have good habits and to watch and make sure my teammates have great habits, and if we do that, I believe process over outcome that you're going to be pleased with the outcome more often than not,” Cousins said following the game.
“So, the way we work Monday through Saturday is really what I pay attention to, and then I believe that if you're doing the right things there, Sunday you're going to give yourself the best chance. I think we've had good habits, and we just have to keep growing together.
Just as I'm talking, I'm just thinking of a play here or play there that we should have been able to execute, and maybe it would have been the difference. That's pro football.
It's why it's a great league, but it's also why it'll beat you up."
That’s the reality for a team leaning so heavily on young players: the growth is part of the plan, but so is the pain that comes with it.
On Sunday, rookie cornerback Masses had another difficult assignment after facing Chris Olave in Week 3, and Kansas City made a point of bringing him back to earth after his strong opening three games. It was a rough afternoon, but he still held up well enough overall.
Even so, the Raiders’ remaining opponents are likely to keep testing him, especially with the way opponents attack young corners. The good news for Las Vegas is that Masses is playing behind one of the league’s better pass rushes.
Stukes’ return to the field against Kansas City also clarified the gap between him and Isaiah Pola-Mao. The Raiders still need to keep developing Stukes, and they also need a plan in place in case he’s unavailable again later this season.
Jeanty’s value has not changed, even if his health has. His stock almost never drops because he doesn’t usually create problems for himself, but it’s obvious he is nowhere near fully healthy right now, and that is affecting his game.
Even at 75%, though, he remains the Raiders’ best running back. That makes him essential to what Las Vegas is trying to build, especially with the injury he suffered shortly before the season started still showing up in the ground game.
The cuts and moves Jeanty is known for depend on healthy ankles.
Rogers, meanwhile, stepped in for Jackson Powers-Johnson and did enough to show he belongs in the mix. Like most players on the field Sunday, he had some bright spots and some rough edges.
Still, the Raiders’ offensive line didn’t allow a sack on more than 50 passes from Cousins, and Rogers showed he can handle himself on a line like this one. He also showed there is still work to do, with a few weaknesses on display that need cleaning up.
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According to a coach cited by Mike Florio, Ryan is viewed as the more fully committed and potentially more impactful of the two because he has thrown himself entirely into that job. Brady, by contrast, is seen as having divided interests, which is the kind of assessment that could sit uneasily with Raiders fans hoping his influence will translate into a sharper football operation. [Read more 🡒]