Kirk Cousins, Raiders open passing offense in win vs. Chargers

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins observed a deepening situation as he dropped back to pass with 30 seconds remaining in the first half of a 26-14 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He also saw wide receiver Tre Tucker sprinting while two pass rushers converged on the pocket, leaving him a decision to make. To throw the ball to Tucker or not. “Maybe it wasn’t the close decision,” Cousins said at the postgame pulpit, but past again, it wasn’t incorrect either because “Tre made maine right.” Cousins completed his second-down pass for 42 yards over multiple coverage to the diving fourth‑year speedster, using his arm strength alongside Tucker’s speed at SoFi Stadium. They connected twice for 40-plus yards, including a 40‑yard touchdown pass that expanded an offense that had not run much beyond the line of scrimmage in the Week 1 win. Overall against the Chargers, Cousins posted a passer rating of 113.1, completing 19 of 29 attempts for 253 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. On throws beyond 10 yards from the line of scrimmage — where he was 1 of 7 with two interceptions versus the Miami Dolphins, compared with 20 of 23 with three touchdowns on passes shorter than 10 yards — Cousins accumulated 181 yards on an 8‑0f‑12 passing line per NFL Next Gen Stats. Tucker finished with five receptions for 119 yards, highlighted by the 42‑yard gain that set up a touchdown to break a 7‑7 tie before halftime. In the locker room, Tucker remarked, cramped for visitors yet seemingly purposeful and buzzing amid the Raiders’ 2‑0 start — a first for Las Vegas since 2021 — “(Cousins) can just about play until he’s 60. He’s elite. I’m so excited to get to play with him. He does not look any sign of age to me. The things I see him do in practice, he’s doing in games now.” His command of the offense and coverages appears stronger than ever in his 15th season. Cousins may not throw at 38 the way he did at 28. He is three years removed from a torn left Achilles and certainly past his physical prime, but that does not mean there isn’t a throw he isn’t equipped to execute. The Dolphins encouraged check‑downs and defended passes of 10 yards or more effectively, allowing running back Ashton Jeanty to gain 102 yards. The Chargers focused on holding the second‑year running back to 48 yards on 21 carries, but offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was satisfied with inventive counters. A second‑quarter shotgun play‑fake to Jeanty opened Tucker down the middle of the field, from which he veered left toward the uncovered sideline. The offensive formation created a pocket for Cousins, who settled in unimpeded and lofted the ball 49.7 airborne yards for a touchdown. “Quarterback did a great job pushing the ball down the field,” Kubiak said. “Playmakers made some big plays. It’s something you’re always trying to do each week. Sometimes it’s there. Sometimes it’s not.” There it was again to Tucker at the end of the second quarter, and again to wideout Cody White in the third and fourth quarters. Cousins fired his first touchdown to White from the opposing 20‑yard line into the end zone, allowing the wideout to prevail in single coverage. Another fourth‑quarter shotgun play‑fake fooled the Chargers and opened White for a score from Cousins, who released the ball from the opposing 18‑yard line. Ever the perfectionist, Cousins lamented a fourth‑quarter miss to wide receiver Malik Benson, streaking open down the right sideline. Benson went long and Cousins threw short, wishing he’d thrown deeper to the rookie: “I felt like I needed to just launch that. I was tense about the ball turning and making a play on that. I kinda wanted to stop him in the window … Malik didn’t know I was going to do that.” Next week, maybe. Next week might also be when tight end Brock Bowers returns to play, having worked out pregame not yet two weeks removed from a left meniscus trim. Kubiak said he was “very close” to playing, suggesting he could be ready for Sunday when the Raiders face the New Orleans Saints. Bowers likewise opens the defense down the field, a benefit after winning their first two games. “I’m proud of the way our coaches put together game plans in his absence,” Cousins said. ‘The way our team stepped up, I felt like these two weeks we won as a team … Getting him back, he’s one of the best players on our football team. We’re excited to have him back and pleased with the way our team competed in his absence.’”