NEW ORLEANS — Who Dat say they going to beat those Las Vegas Raiders? Surely, not the New Orleans Saints.
The Raiders remained unbeaten Sunday by overcoming an 11-point second-half deficit en route to a 35-27 victory at Caesers Superdome. Las Vegas quarterback Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes for the third consecutive game, completing 22 of 33 passes for 248 yards and the go-ahead score to wide recevier Cody White.
Tight end Brock Bowers in his season debut had 10 receptions, 116 receiving yards and a 4-yard fourth-quarter score from Cousins. Tight end Michael Mayer had a second-quarter score and running back Mike Washington Jr. added a 36-yard, third-quarter rushing touchdown.
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough completed 29 of 42 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns, neutralizing pressure by dinking and dunking. But for one of the four turnovers the Raiders forced, Shough was strip-sacked in the fourth by defensive end Malcolm Koonce and defensive end Maxx Crosby recovered the football, setting up the Raider go-ahead drive.
Tight ends Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant had two scoring receptions apiece for New Orleans.
Bowers was featured on the opening possession for three receptions and 37 yards, but a second-down hold in the red zone forced the Raiders to setttle for a 41-yard field goal. Shough marched the Saints on a 79-yard scoring drive on the enusing possession, capping it with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Johnson.
Gay made the equalizer from 37 yards after a promising possession stalled in the red zone amid a third-down offensive offsides. After forcing a three-and-out, the Raiders (3-0) took a seven-point lead with Mayer’s 3-yard touchdown catch, threaded by Cousins to beat tight coverage.
The Saints (1-2) answered with a 10-play, 72-yard drive that Shough ended with a 3-yard scoring pass to Fant. Cousins used the final 1:55 of the half to drive for a field goal, converted by Gay from 25 yards for a 16-13 halftime lead.
The Raiders started the second half with three plays and a punt to 13-yard line, from which New Orleans drove 87 yards to take a 20-16 lead with Shough’s 1-yard pass to Johnson. Dylan Laube fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Saints recovered at the 32-yard line, riding running back Travis Etienne for 16 yards before Shough’s 16-yard scoring pass to Fant.
Washington ended the ensuing drive with his burst through the middle and right for six. An exchange of punts preceded the fumble for Shough and set up the Raiders’ go-ahead score. Completions of 22 yards to running back Ashton Jeanty and 15 yards to wide receiver Tre Tucker preceded White’s touchdown catch.
Cornerback Hezekiah Masses intercepted Shough on the ensusing possession, paving the way for Bowers’ touchdown reception. Safety Jeremy Chinn sacked Shough on fourth down to end the next New Orleans drive. Its final possession ended when linebacker Nakobe Dean stripped Johnson and cornerback Eric Stokes recovered.
The Raiders return Sunday to Allegiant Stadium to host the Kansas City Chiefs.
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
