Kirk Cousins kept finding answers, and the Raiders kept finding ways to stay alive.
Las Vegas erased a nine-point halftime deficit and outlasted the Jets 38-33 on Sunday, snapping a four-game skid behind three touchdown passes from Cousins, a rushing score from the veteran quarterback and a late interception by Jeremy Chinn to close it out.
Cousins finished 19 of 26 for 247 yards. He threw the go-ahead 2-yard touchdown to Jalen Nailor in the fourth quarter, then watched Chinn end New York’s final push with a toe-tapping interception in the end zone on a desperation throw by Geno Smith.
Brock Bowers was a major part of the comeback, hauling in two touchdown catches for the Raiders (4-4). Rookie Mike Washington Jr. also gave Las Vegas a needed lift on the ground, rushing for 83 yards on 25 carries as the team tried to patch together production from a struggling backfield. Ashton Jeanty, who earlier in the week said it seemed like the Jets' defense has players who don't like to tackle, had only 9 rushing yards on two carries but made his mark as a receiver with three catches for 64 yards.
That included a huge play on the drive that put the Raiders ahead for good. With Las Vegas trailing by two, Cousins dumped a screen to Jeanty, who stumbled before breaking free for 45 yards to the Jets 13. Five plays later, Cousins hit Nailor to make it 35-30 with 11:33 left.
New York had its chance to answer. Adonai Mitchell made a spectacular 47-yard grab while falling to get the Jets to the Raiders 13, but the drive ended with a 31-yard Jason Sanders field goal that trimmed the margin to 35-33 with 4:31 remaining.
From there, Las Vegas controlled the clock and added a 53-yard Matt Gay field goal with 31 seconds left.
The Jets got one last shot from their 35 with 27 seconds to play. Garrett Wilson caught a 15-yard pass, and an unnecessary roughness penalty on Chinn moved the ball to the Raiders 35. But Smith’s end-zone heave with 14 seconds left was intercepted by Chinn, sealing the Raiders’ comeback.
Smith went 20 of 32 for 290 yards with touchdowns to Mitchell and Isaiah Williams, plus the late pick. Braelon Allen powered the Jets on the ground with 147 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
New York came out sharp and looked ready to keep rolling early. Smith connected with Wilson for 31 yards on the opening play, part of a first drive that ended with a 21-yard Sanders field goal. The Raiders answered with a scoring march of their own, converting two third downs before Cousins found Bowers on third-and-goal from the 12.
The Jets stayed aggressive on their next possession but again settled for three, this time a 36-yard Sanders kick. Then Smith found Williams for an 18-yard touchdown on the Jets’ third drive, giving New York a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter.
Las Vegas immediately flipped the game. Laube took the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, the first kickoff return for a score in the NFL this season and the first of his three-year career, putting the Raiders back in front 14-13.
The Jets kept answering. Smith’s over-the-shoulder fade to Mitchell on fourth-and-1 from the 12 gave New York a 20-14 lead, and then the Jets added another score just before halftime.
They had entered the game having been outscored 107-6 in the final two minutes of the opening half in two seasons under Glenn, but this time they reached the Raiders 28 at the two-minute warning and got a 39-yard field goal to go up 23-14. It was New York’s first points this season in the final two minutes of the first half.
Las Vegas cut into that margin right away to open the second half, as Cousins hit Bowers from 2 yards out to make it 23-21. Allen answered with a 21-yard touchdown run to push the Jets back ahead by two scores at 30-21, but Cousins kept the Raiders within reach with a 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.
The Jets’ six-drive scoring streak to start the game finally ended on their seventh possession, when they punted for the first time late in the third quarter.
Raiders cornerback Darien Porter left after injuring his groin on Las Vegas’ first defensive play and did not return.
The Raiders visit the 49ers next Sunday. The Jets head to Kansas City to face the Chiefs next Sunday.
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For the Jets, the path is pretty clear: get Garrett Wilson more involved, protect the football and hope Omar Cooper Jr. can keep giving the passing game a lift. The offense has been uneven enough that every possession matters, and with both teams searching for answers, New York cannot afford another sluggish start if it wants to keep the season from drifting further off course. [Read more 🡒]