Raiders still pointing upward despite two-game losing streak

Las Vegas Raiders backmost Kirk Cousins (8) stands connected the tract aft the Kansas City Chiefs decision the Las Vegas Raiders, 30-27, during an NFL shot crippled astatine Allegiant Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. Photo by: Wade Vandervort / Las Vegas Sun

Through the archetypal 3 and a fractional games of the season, the Raiders were arguably the astir awesome squad successful the NFL, oregon astatine slightest the astir unexpected occurrence story.

Out of nowhere, Las Vegas won each of its archetypal 3 games by much than a touchdown and past led the league’s champion squad of the decade, the Kansas City Chiefs, astatine halftime of Week 4. The reinvigorated Raiders nether first-year manager Klint Kubiak had an NFL-best 9 takeaways and +5 turnover margin.

Then a 180 occurred. Over the adjacent crippled and a half, the Raiders person arguably been the worst squad successful the NFL with a -34 constituent differential and problems galore connected some sides of the ball. 

The Silver and Black collapsed down the agelong against the archrival Chiefs, getting continually gashed by the tally connected defence and committing 2 fourth-quarter giveaways connected offense. They couldn’t rebuild themselves successful clip for a Week 5 crippled astatine the New England Patriots, falling successful a noncompetitive 45-17 romp that felt excessively overmuch similar the Raiders of old.

“You tin consciousness similar you’re the champion squad successful the satellite 1 week, and past the adjacent week, it could beryllium existent tough,” borderline rusher Maxx Crosby said successful the locker country aft the nonaccomplishment to the Patriots.

The shifting fortunes person been a batch for the long-suffering Raiders instrumentality basal to take, considering the NFL is truthful parity-driven that large turnarounds hap each year. The commencement to the play enactment the Raiders successful premier presumption to beryllium this year’s contender that nary 1 saw coming.

But now, things mightiness get worse earlier they get better. The Raiders instrumentality to Allegiant Stadium for their archetypal two-game location basal of the season, but the contention couldn’t beryllium much unwelcoming. They big the Buffalo Bills astatine 1:25 p.m. connected October 18 earlier turning to the Los Angeles Rams precisely a week later.

The Rams and Bills entered the play arsenic the respective Super Bowl favorites successful each of their conferences and stayed that mode astatine slightest done their Week 5 showdown connected "Monday Night Football," an overtime instant classical that Buffalo won, 37-34.

The Raiders are astir a touchdown underdog successful some games, with existent likelihood implying astir a 60% accidental they suffer some to gaffe backmost to a losing record.

“I deliberation it’s going to amusement a batch astir who we are, however mature we are, however bully our enactment is with myself and our players,” Kubiak said of responding to the decision successful New England. “It’s an accidental for america to determination forward.”

The Raiders person lone posted 1 winning grounds and 1 playoff quality since moving to Las Vegas successful 2020, truthful the thought of them falling backmost into their accustomed spot adjacent the bottommost of the standings tin beryllium frustrating.

The franchise is successful a overmuch stronger spot than it was a twelvemonth agone astatine this clip erstwhile it was sitting astatine 1-4 coming disconnected a 34-point nonaccomplishment astatine the Indianapolis Colts. And Kubiak is committing to younker and development, thing erstwhile manager Pete Carroll staunchly opposed.

Kubiak didn’t hesitate to premiere No. 1 wide rookie draught prime Fernando Mendoza astatine the extremity of the Patriots’ walloping. The backmost recovered immoderate rhythm, completing 5 of six walk attempts, including 3 to chap rookie imaginable Malik Benson.

“It wasn’t a large acquisition due to the fact that of the wide outcome,” Mendoza said of his debut. “I wanted to bash my portion immoderate mode I could to assistance the team. I was called upon and I truly admit each my teammates, particularly immoderate of the stars going retired determination inactive having a combat to win.”

Many astir the NFL praised the Raiders for keeping it adjacent against the Chiefs, but not finishing the occupation whitethorn yet upwind up a turning constituent for the season. No squad has ever started 4-0 and missed the playoffs nether the NFL’s existent 14-team postseason bracket, and the Raiders were oh-so-close.

But don’t number them out—there’s been much affirmative than antagonistic truthful acold this season. Kubiak has the Raiders headed successful the close absorption long-term. The commencement to the play volition beryllium acold from his past three-game winning streak.

“I told the guys, ‘What makes you a loser is if you’re pointing fingers astatine different people,’” Kubiak said. “We’re each trying to look interior, looking astatine what we tin bash amended and determination forward.”

This communicative primitively appeared successful Las Vegas Weekly.