Kirk Cousins and Cody White have turned into the kind of pairing that can flip a game in a heartbeat, and they did it again Sunday in New Orleans.
With the Raiders staring at their first loss of the season, Cousins found White for a 5-yard touchdown with just under 9:30 left in the fourth quarter. That score pulled Las Vegas within 28-27, and it ended up being the decisive play in a 3-0 start for the Raiders.
The connection has already become a pattern. A week earlier, against Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers, Las Vegas was trailing 14-10 in the third quarter when Cousins hit White on a 13-yard touchdown pass with just under four minutes remaining.
That was the go-ahead score. Then, about 15 minutes later, White added another 11-yard touchdown from Cousins to help seal a road win that moved the Raiders to 2-0.
On Sunday, the same duo delivered again, giving the Raiders three touchdowns between them over the last two weeks.
White wasn’t supposed to be the receiver making the biggest noise in this offense. Jalen Nailor was expected to be that guy.
Instead, White has made the most of every chance he’s gotten. He has only three catches this season, and all three have gone for touchdowns.
Kirk and Cody are at it again 🙌 #LVvsNO on CBS/Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/akSvgktoZ4
- Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) September 27, 2026
The bigger story, though, is Cousins himself. Three games into the 2026 season, he looks like he’s found another gear after a rough stretch with the Atlanta Falcons. Backed by the No. 1 pick, he’s playing with confidence and steering Las Vegas to a start that few saw coming.
Through three games, Cousins has thrown for 661 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions while completing nearly 70 percent of his passes. The numbers look a lot like the old Minnesota version of Kirk Cousins.
At 38, the former Michigan State quarterback is making his contract look worthwhile, and the Raiders suddenly have the feel of a team that can hang around the division race and the playoff picture.
In Other News...
Michigan State Now Faces A Bigger Problem Than The Nebraska Loss
The Nebraska loss itself was ugly enough for Michigan State, but the bigger concern coming out of Lincoln was the damage done to the roster. The Spartans were already thin in key spots, and the injury situation started before kickoff when starting cornerback Tre Bell was hurt in warmups and never made it into the game.
It only got worse from there. Running back Cam Edwards and offensive lineman Connor Moore went down on the same play, and defensive leader Jordan Hall also left with a leg injury after being taken off the field on a cart, leaving Michigan State with plenty to sort through beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Faces A Bigger Offensive Problem Than Fans Feared
Michigan States offense has looked increasingly out of sync over the last few games, and the numbers underline just how much work remains. Through four games, the Spartans have managed only 88 points and nine touchdowns, both among the lowest marks in the Big Ten, while quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has been dealing with plenty of pressure, sacks and interceptions as the unit struggles to find any sort of rhythm.
The bigger concern is that the problems have not been limited to execution. Injuries have already thinned out the group and left the staff trying to patch together answers on the fly, with the offensive line and backfield both taking hits that make every snap feel a little more fragile. Michigan State is still searching for stability, but the margin for error keeps shrinking as the offense tries to get healthy enough to even resemble what it was supposed to be. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Suddenly Faces A Depth Chart Test Against Wisconsin
Michigan State left its trip to Nebraska with more than one injury concern, and the timing could not be worse with Wisconsin next on the schedule. Running back Cam Edwards and linebacker Jordan Hall were among the players hurt in the game, leaving the Spartans to sort through a depth chart that may look different by the time they line up again.
The backfield is especially worth watching because backup Jaziun Patterson handled relief work well after Edwards exited, and the staff is already leaning on him as it prepares for the next matchup. The bigger question now is how Michigan State will piece together its roster across the board if the injury list forces more changes, with the full extent of those setbacks still unclear. [Read more 🡒]