The Las Vegas Raiders are 2-0. Let that sink in for a second, because after two weeks of NFL action, it’s easily the most surprising stat flying around. And the reason behind it? Kirk Cousins, the guy many expected would eventually step aside for their shiny new rookie, is absolutely dealing, producing touchdowns in bunches as Las Vegas swept aside the Dolphins and Chargers. The Raiders rebuilt their entire quarterback room this offseason, bringing in Fernando Mendoza through the NFL Draft and landing Cousins via free agency, with Cousins capturing the starting job right out of the gate. His play has completely reshaped the early-season outlook for their QB depth chart.
Kirk Cousins’ Unbeaten Start Is Changing Everything
Cousins has been on fire, enjoying a huge resurgence in the first two games of the season. He’s already amassed six touchdowns, making him one of only two quarterbacks to record at least three scores in each of his first two games this year. That’s serious business. His performance against the Chargers was especially wild: Cousins tallied 253 yards and three touchdowns against a Los Angeles defense that gave up the ninth-fewest points per game last year. The 38-year-old veteran has absolutely been at the heart of Las Vegas’ unbeaten start, finding undeniable success at the head of Kubiak’s attack. It’s clear he’s made himself an indispensable part of that locker room, too. We saw him giving an impassioned speech to the team in the pregame huddle alongside Maxx Crosby, and then Crosby even embraced Mark Davis and Charles Woodson on the sidelines. Talk about leading by example.
Mendoza’s Waiting Game: Lessons from a Legend
Now, it’s not all perfect with Cousins. He definitely has some warts in his game. He can get a little overzealous in his reads sometimes, which has led to him tallying interceptions in each fixture this year. And yeah, he’s nowhere near as mobile as Mendoza is, a limitation that comes into focus anytime opposition teams flood his pocket. But honestly, the numbers don’t lie. He’s the first quarterback to record at least three touchdowns in each of his first two games in silver and black since Ken Stabler did it way back in 1976. Wild, right? Naturally, you gotta wonder where all this leaves Fernando Mendoza. The No. 1 pick possesses similar traits to Cousins, just in a much younger form. He figures to be Kubiak’s guy in due time, no doubt about it. For now, though, Cousins should be considered the firm favorite to maintain his place at the head of Las Vegas’ attack. That’s actually not a bad thing for Kubiak and Co. The whole idea behind starting the year with Mendoza as a backup was to give him the opportunity to learn the finer details of the game away from the spotlight. Cousins’ stellar play just gives Mendoza even more opportunity to get himself familiarized with Kubiak’s play scripts from the sidelines. Cousins has absolutely lengthened his leash out there, giving him plenty of room to keep cooking.
So, what’s next? Mendoza watches, learns, and prepares. For now, the Raiders are riding the hot hand of Kirk Cousins, and it’s a hell of a story for this early 2026 season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply