Holy cow, did the Raiders just drop a bomb on the Jets! Dylan Laube absolutely flew, taking an ensuing kickoff 95 yards to the house for the NFL’s first kickoff return touchdown of the entire 2026 season. It was pure electricity and swung the scoreboard right back to the Raiders, putting them up 14-13 with just over 10 minutes left in the first half. Talk about an immediate answer.
Jets’ Brief Moment in the Sun
Before Laube decided to break the league, the Jets actually had a little something cooking. Geno Smith, yeah, that Geno, connected with wide receiver Isaiah Williams for an 18-yard touchdown. That play capped an eight-play, 70-yard drive that briefly gave the Jets a 13-7 lead. Smith was sharp on that possession, completing three other passes for 45 yards. He even slung a pretty deep ball that should have been a completion, but Adonai Mitchell let it slip through his hands. You had to feel for Smith on that one.
Laube’s Heroics and Mitchell’s Redemption Arc
That dropped deep ball from Mitchell was a tough one, but give the guy credit. He shook it off fast, redeeming himself later in that same drive with a pair of catches for 41 yards. Still, all that effort from the Jets to take the lead felt like it got swallowed whole by Laube’s return. It’s one thing to give up a score, but to concede the *first* kickoff return touchdown of the season right after you take the lead? That’s just brutal. Laube’s run was more than just points, it was a gut punch that totally shifted the momentum and set the Raiders up with a narrow advantage early. What a game changer this already is!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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