The Las Vegas showed they are better than the league’s worst teams Sunday as they endeda nasty four-game losing streak.
In a game that was similar to Week 3 at New Orleans (Las Vegas’ last victory), the Raiders outplayed the Jets in the second half, outscoring them 24-10 to win a 38-33 game Sunday to even their record at 4-4.
The Jets fell to 2-6. Going into thsi week, the three teams the Raiders beat to open the seaosn had a combined 3-16 on the seaosn. So, this win tracks.
The key is for Las Vegas
to start beating some good teams. If they want to stay in the Raiders must win a couple of the next three games, against the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos. They all have winning records.
Sunday’s win at New York was crucial and the Raiders deserve credit for turning it around after a 23-14 halftime deficit. But if they fall to 4-5 next week wit a loss to the 49ers, they will have some decisions to make at the November 10 trade deadline.
Here are some key aspects to Sunday’s victory:
Jeanty plays backup role:
Raiders second-year running back Ashton Jeanty didn’t get his first carry until the second quarter. He had just two catches for nine yards. He did contribute with 64 receiving yards on three catches, including a crucial 45-yard screen pass. Rookie fourth round pick Mike Washington led the way with 23 carries for 83 yards, including a 15-yarder. In the end, the Raiders’ ground game was still lacking. Coach Klint Kubiak said Jeanty will still be a big part of the offense. He said Jeanty’s disparaging words about some of the Jets’ defenders last week didn’t play a roe in his lack of carries. It will be something to monitor next week.
Second half seals it:
The Raiders trialed 23-14 at halftime after being outplayed by the Jets, But the Raiders scored on three straight drives to overtake the Jets. It was a big response.
Kirk Cousins strong again:
There has been a lot of noise about the Raiders potentially starting No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoxa soon. Kirk Cousins did his best to quiet that talk. He was 19 of 26 and threw three touchdown passes for the fourth time this season, which is tied for the league lead. The Raiders were 4-for-4 in the red zone after going 3-for-10 in the past two games. That was a key. Also, the Raiders were 7 of 11 on third down after going 3 for 14 last week.
Defense in a mess:
The Jets scored on their first six dries and the Raiders have allowed 30 or more points in five straight games. That is the longest streak in the NFL since 2020. The Raiders allowed 27 points to the Saints the week prior to the streak beginning. On a positive note, the Jets and Geno Smith, who shredded his former team, were just two of six in the red zone, which was a difference maker. Las Vegas’ opponents had been eight of 10 in the red zone the past two games.
Nailor not tucker makes some plays:
Starting wide receiver Jalen Nailor had a relatively solid game with four catches and a touchdown. Tre Tucker, who had been on fire the past two games, didn’t have a catch. According to Next Gen Stats, Brock Bowers had six catches for 87 yards as a receiver and one catch for five yards as a tight end.
Laube strikes:
Raiders’ kick returner Dylan Laube has been flirting with breaking a kick return all season as he led the NFL in kick return average going into Week 8. Sunday, in the second quarter, the third-year backup running back returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown It was the Raiders’ first kick return for a score since Jacoby Ford did it 15 years ago. Laube was the first NFL player this season to return a kick for a score. It was crucial to this one-score victory.
Raiders buck trend:
The Raiders score don their opening drive of the second quarter for the first time this season as Kirk Cousins hit Brock Bowers for a short score to cut the Jets’ lead to 23-21. They then scored on their second drive of the third quarter.
Jets’ actually have success in last two minutes of first half:
Since Aaron Glenn took over as coach last year, the Jets were outscored 106-7 in the final two minutes of the first half. It was, by far, the worst percentage in NFL history. the Jets broke that spell Sunday as they outscored Las Vegas 3-0 in that time span.
Tush-push problems continue:
The Raiders failed to convert a Connor Heyward tush-push in the second quarter on fourth down at Jsts; 46. It has been a season-long problem. They’ve had better success with having Cousins sneaking the ball.
McCoy plays:
After not playing on defense for most of the season, fourth-round pick Jermod McCoy replaced Darien Porter at an outside cornerback spot when the starter was injured on the first play from scrimmage. So, at least for now, McCoy has replaced brief starter Zeke Masses, a fifth-round pick, as the primary backup to Porter. McCoy was picked on often Sunday and Masses replaced him for a bitin the second quarter, but McCoy did return in the third quarter.
Zuhn starts:
Rookie, third-round pick Trey Zuhn made his starting debut, at right guard. Previously, the Texas A&M product played on offense sparingly in Jumbo packages. Kubiak hinted last week a young player would get a chance on the offensive line. He replaced Caleb Rogers, who replaced Jackson Powers-Johnson two weeks ago. Now, Zuhn, is the latest high draft pick on the offensive line to get a chance.
Injury advantage again:
As has been the case in nearly every game this season, the Raiders entered as the more healthy squad. Every starter was healthy for Las Vegas, while the Jets were missing running back Breece Hall, run-stuffing defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat and standout rookie defensive end David Bailey.
Two young wide receivers sit:
2025 Fourth-round draft pick Dont’e Thornton was in inactive in his first game on the on the 53-man roster. He had been on the injured reserve. Rookie sixth-round pick Malik Benson was a healthy scratch for the first tine. Jack Bech is back from the injured reserve and the team, at least for this week, value Cody White and Dareke Young more than Thornton and Benson. They were both training camp heroes as rookies, but neither has done much in the regular season.
Slone was active:
Undrafted rookie Cian Slone was active for the first time. He has been elevated from the practice squad the past three weeks, but was not active the past two games. Slone can’t not be elevated for a game anymore this season. He must be part of the 53-man roster if he plays again.
Back to deferring:
The Raiders won the coin flip and they deferred to the second half, allowing the Jets to get the ball to start the game. Last week, in a loss to the Rams, the Raiders di the opposite and it didn’t work well.
DT rotation:
It seemed like 2025 sixth-round pick J.J. Pegues would have a game-day role after Jonah Laulu was waived last week. But Pegues was inactive Sunday after being active the past two games. Tim Keenan was elevated from the practice squad for the second straight week and he was active. He had a sack in the third quarter.
If JPJ a center again?
Powers-Johnson was warming up behind Tyler Linderbaum at center in pre-game warmups. It maty be an indication he is back to being a center with him losing his starting guard spot. But, with this line, it seems like everything is fluid.
