
It's hard to believe that the Las Vegas Raiders are entering Sunday against the New Orleans Saints with the opportunity to be 3-0.
Defeating the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 was expected. On the other hand, many people didn’t expect the Raiders to beat the Los Angeles Chargers, who were coming off an embarrassing season opener. Nevertheless, Las Vegas has found itself in this position, and the offense has been one of the most surprising developments in the team's success. With that in mind, here are projections for the Raiders' top offensive players on Sunday.
Cousins' experience and familiarity with Klint Kubiak's scheme have been apparent in the first two games of the season. While the sample size is small, the 38-year-old quarterback has looked sharp and decisive. During this brief stint, Cousins has compiled 413 passing yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions, while completing 67.8 percent of his passes.
Interceptions can't become a regular occurrence, especially as the difficulty level increases in the coming weeks. That said, Cousins' ability to lead this offense effectively without its top weapons - who we will address shortly - has been impressive, to say the least. Sunday will be a major test to see how the 15-year veteran fares against a competent defense.
New Orleans has been susceptible against the run, albeit it's gone up against Jahmyr Gibbs and Derrick Henry, so you have to give it some grace. However, Jeanty can strengthen that narrative, as he's one of the most talented and explosive running backs in the league.
In Week 2 against the Chargers, the 22-year-old running back was bottled up for 48 yards on 21 carries and was a non-factor in the passing game, recording four receptions for 15 yards. Jeanty should have much more success on Sunday and will be a major factor in the offense's success.
We have yet to see Bowers on the field this season. The 23-year-old tight end will make his season debut on Sunday, giving Cousins a go-to option in the passing game.
Bowers has already proven he is a top-two tight end in the league, with Trey McBride as his main competition. Regardless, the third-year tight end should make an immediate impact in his first game of the 2026 season.
More must-reads:
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!