The Jets and Raiders represent two franchises that have been trying to rebuild for a long time, without much success. Having picked first and second in the 2026 NFL draft, the teams meet on Sunday with each trying desperately not to fall out of contention yet again. While the Jets could easily be better than their current 2-5 record, the Raiders stand 3-4 having won their first three only to then lose four straight.
When these teams last met, in 2023, Las Vegas beat the Jets 16-12 in a frustrating
game that dropped the Jets below .500. Whoever loses this one will be similarly frustrated.
Let’s break down the Raiders’ roster going position by position:
Quarterbacks
The Raiders got rid of Geno Smith during the offseason and replaced him with someone even older, the 38-year old Kirk Cousins. So far, Cousins is off to a productive start and the Raiders have the number four passing game in the NFL as he leads the league with 16 touchdown passes.
However, while the Raiders have been marching up and down the field and are 2nd in the league in terms of red zone visits, they are down in 29th for touchdown conversion percentage in the red zone. They were 1-for-5 down there in Sunday’s loss to the Rams.
Of course, the biggest quarterback story for the Raiders is currently on ice, as the number one overall pick Fernando Mendoza won’t get a chance to show the Jets what they missed out on unless Cousins is hurt or benched during Sunday’s game. His first start probably isn’t too far away though, and he did complete six of eight passes in garbage time action so far this season.
The number three is Aidan O’Connell, who beat the Jets as a rookie in the aforementioned 2023 game.
Offensive Line
The Raiders’ offensive line was awful last year, although two of the players they got rid of – Dylan Parham and Jordan Meredith – are actually faring quite well with the Jets.
Former Raven Tyler Linderbaum was brought in at center to stabilize things, signing a massive $81 million deal. The jury is still out on this deal because, while the offensive line is definitely improved, his own performance has been somewhat underwhelming. He leads the team with five offensive penalties in seven games.
The Raiders also brought in Spencer Burford on a low-cost one-year deal and he’s currently starting at left guard. Burford is best known for blowing a costly assignment in overtime during the 49ers’ recent Super Bowl loss.
The other three players listed as starters are all returning from last year’s group: Kolton Miller at left tackle, DJ Glaze at right tackle and Jackson Powers-Johnson at right guard. However, Powers-Johnson was recently benched for Caleb Rogers with the suggestion being that he doesn’t fit the system and could be traded at the deadline. He is also listed as questionable having missed practice time due to a back issue.
Glaze led the team in offensive snaps last year, as the one constant on a line that kept changing personnel. Miller is the team’s highest paid offensive player, but has given up a team-high four sacks.
The rest of the bench comprises guard Bryce Cabeldue, tackle Charles Grant and third round rookie guard Trey Zuhn III. Grant was a third round pick who had one start as a rookie last season but Cabeldue and Zuhn have played less than 50 offensive snaps between them in regular season action. Zuhn sees some time as a sixth lineman in jumbo packages, though.
Running Backs
Last year’s top pick Ashton Jeanty continues to see a lot of the ball and rack up production by volume even though he hasn’t been all that effective with a 3.1 yards per carry average. Having come within 25 yards of a thousand-yard season as a rookie, he’s ramped up his passing game production this year and has accounted for 640 yards from scrimmage with four total touchdowns.
Jeanty made headlines during the week when he suggested that unnamed Jets players didn’t like to tackle. That was ironic given that he is 25th out of 26 qualifying backs in terms of forced missed tackles so far this season according to Pro Football Focus.
Fourth round rookie Mike Washington Jr. has shown some early promise in a reserve role, though, as he is averaging almost five yards per carry.
Dylan Laube is the number three back and Connor Heyward is listed as the fullback, although he will also line up at tight end.
Pass catchers
The Raiders’ best pass catching weapon is pro bowler Brock Bowers. The tight end missed two games but is still tied with Jeanty for the team lead in receptions on 31, for 455 yards and three scores. His fellow tight end Michael Mayer also has 31 catches.
Leading the team in receiving yards and touchdown receptions, though, is Tre Tucker with 474 yards and four scores.
No other Raiders wideout has double figures in catches, although Cody White has made his eight catches count, with three of them being touchdowns.
Jalen Nailor is the other starter along with Tucker, but has just 75 yards on eight catches for the season. Last year’s second round pick, Jack Bech, would presumably be playing a significant role if he weren’t on injured reserve, though, and he has been practicing this week so he may be about to return. His official game status is questionable.
Dont’e Thornton, Malik Benson and Dareke Young are also on the roster at wideout and Ian Thomas is the number three tight end. Benson was drafted in the sixth round in April.
Defensive Line
As ever, the Raiders’ biggest threat on either side of the ball is all-pro defensive end Maxx Crosby. However, it’s the other two edges in the Raiders’ three man rotation – Malcolm Koonce and Kwity Paye – who are tied for the team lead on three sacks each. Crosby certainly hasn’t been slacking, though. His 16 quarterback hits are more than twice as many as any other player on the team.
At defensive tackle, Adam Butler and Tonka Hemingway are listed as the starters. However, ex-Jet Folorunso Fatukasi has actually started all seven games.
With third round pick Keyron Crawford on injured reserve, depth on the edge comes from Patrick Johnson, although he’s out of Sunday’s game with a stinger. Thomas Booker and JJ Pegues provide further depth inside.
Linebackers
The Raiders signed linebacker Nakobe Dean to a $12 million per year contract in the offseason and he’s been a settling influence on the defense in the same way Linderbaum was supposed to be for the offense. Dean is tied for the league lead with three forced fumbles and has 68 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception.
The other starter at linebacker is former first round pick Quay Walker, who has a team-high five tackles for loss, while Tommy Eichenberg sees action in base packages.
Cody Lindenberg and Segun Olubi provide depth off the bench. Olubi started two games for the Colts back in 2023.
Defensive Backs
The Raiders’ 3-0 start was significantly influenced by fifth round rookie Hezekiah Masses, who intercepted three passes in the first three games. However, since that time, Masses has found himself back in a reserve role as he has given up four touchdowns and five defensive penalties with the defense now statistically one of the league’s worst.
Eric Stokes, who signed a three-year, $30 million extension during the offseason and Darien Porter are now starting on the outside after Porter had previously seen his starting role taken away by Masses. In addition, Taron Johnson is one of the most reliable slot specialists in the league.
At safety, the Raiders drafted Treydan Stukes in the second round and he’s been starting alongside veteran Jeremy Chinn. Isaiah Pola-Mao sees time in three-safety sets.
The Raiders also drafted Jermod McCoy and Dalton Johnson in the middle rounds to add some depth at corner. Cornerback Darrell Luter is also on the roster, as is safety Tristin McCollum.
Special Teams
On special teams, former pro bowler AJ Cole is still a solid punter, who is currently second in the NFL for gross average. Kicker Matt Gay is also solid, with just two misses on the season.
Laube, who had a 53-yard runback earlier this year, is the main kickoff returner and backs up Benson on punt returns. Young also gets work on kick returns, in addition to being the team’s primary gunner in punt coverage.
Their linebackers are productive in kick coverage as Lindenberg and Olubi are tied for the team lead with eight special teams tackles. Eichenberg was fourth in the league with 21 last season.
