NEW ORLEANS — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins has nine touchdown passes in three games this season, the last of which was a 4-yard touchdown Sunday to tight end Brock Bowers. How did he contextualize his rhythm afterward from the bowels of Caesars Superdome?
“When the defense gives you the ball back on the 6-yard line … it’s a little easier to score touchdowns.”
The 4-yard line actually, but the point still stands.
The Raiders forced four straight fourth-quarter turnovers, keeping their unbeaten record intact with a 35-27 comeback victory over the New Orleans Saints. The takeaways helped Las Vegas erase a 27-16 third-quarter deficit and triggered a game-ending 19-0 run that Cousins capped with his strike to Bowers, debuting after missing the first two games.
Cousins completed 22 of 33 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Bowers provided 10 receptions for 116 yards and his score.
Tight end Michael Mayer (3 yards) and wide receiver Cody White (4 yards) added touchdown receptions — including the go-ahead score for White with 9:21 to play — while running back Mike Washington Jr. rushed for a 36-yard, third-quarter touchdown. Cornerback Hezekiah Masses followed with a fourth-quarter interception, and defensive end Malcom Koonce and safety Jeremy Chinn recorded sacks.
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough was 29 of 42 for 255 yards and four touchdowns (two apiece to tight ends Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant), but was stripped by Koonce and Chinn on their sacks and picked off by Masses down the stretch.
Said Raiders coach Klint Kubiak: “That’s a great job of our players. That’s what they’ve been doing since April. They believe in each other. They’re a tight group. Wasn’t pretty, but they found a way to win.”
Here’s how:
Timely takeaways
The Saints tamed the NFL’s best pass rush (through Weeks 1 and 2) by dinking and dunking the football with Shough, who wasn’t sacked through the first three quarters, staking his team an 11-point lead. But a timely blitz — from linebacker Quay Walker and defensive back Taron Johnson — overwhelmed their line and helped free up Koonce to get to Shough, knocking the football free from his arm, onto to the turf and into Maxx Crosby’s hands.
On the next Saints possession following White’s touchdown catch, pressure from Koonce coaxed Shough into throwing from a muddied pocket. His underthrown pass went right to Masses, who returned his pick (and fumbled it, though defensive tackle Adam Butler recovered) to the New Orleans 4-yard line.
Then came Chinn’s fourth-down sack of Shough, who fumbled the football over to Johnson. Linebacker Nakobe Dean forced Juwan Johnson to fumble (to cornerback Eric Stokes) in the open field on the final New Orleans possession.
“It’s all about connection,” Crosby said. “We have a great group of guys who love playing football together. … In those big moments, there’s no panic. We went down 11 and got together on the sideline and talked about not panicking. We just kept playing and knew there was a lot of football left.”
Cousins is cooking
With three touchdown passes in his first three games, the 38-year-old Cousins is tied for the NFL lead in passing touchdowns. His completion percentage of 67.4 percent exceeds his career mark of 66.7 percent, the seventh-best ever, and his passer rating of 107.2 bests his career mark of 96.9, 13th all-time.
Against the Saints, Cousins played with the poise, grit and guile he has displayed all season — distributing the football on time and on target. His touchdown to Mayer beat tight coverage. His touchdown to White was deep in his progression. His touchdown to Bowers made history.
Cousins is the first quarterback to throw three touchdowns in each of his first three games with a team — as well as the first one 38 or older with three touchdowns in three games to start a season.
“He’s been leading this way since April,” Kubiak said. “So, not surprised with what he’s doing. … He has the experience. He has the maturity. And he’s making plays.”
Room for improvement
Washington’s touchdown — a burst up the middle turned sprint down the right sideline — offset an otherwise uninspired rushing effort. The other 23 rushes by running backs (excluding a 5-yard scramble and two kneeldowns from Cousins) totaled 74 yards, including 19 for 56 for Ashton Jeanty.
Kubiak again remained committed to the run, giving Las Vegas balance offensively and opening play-action passes for Cousins. But he surely wants it to be more efficient, especially during a Week 4 date with the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium.
“It’s a 17-game season,” Kubiak said. “We can’t be happy or satisfied with this win. … We know what’s coming to our place next week … so let’s take it one game at a time and that’s how you win games. Don’t look too far ahead. You don’t look behind. Just keep your eyes on the prize and get better everyday.”
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
