The Las Vegas Raiders are 2-0 to kick off the 2026 season, and honestly, who saw that coming under rookie head coach Klint Kubiak? After years of being a moribund franchise, the Silver & Black actually look like a professional football team, and that’s a huge shift from what we’ve seen before. They’ve stacked two early wins, which is massive for a team trying to find its new identity. But now comes the real test: a Week 3 road trip against the New Orleans Saints, a team that could easily be undefeated themselves.
Youthful Minds Clashing in the Bayou
This matchup isn’t just about two teams, it’s about two young, offensive-minded head coaches going head-to-head. Just like Kubiak, who’s 39, the Saints brought in their own hotshot offensive guru, Kellen Moore, in February of 2025. Moore, at 38, brings a ton of play-calling experience, and you can see he’s already instilling a new culture in New Orleans. While the Saints are 1-1, they’re playing at a level that suggests they absolutely could be 2-0, just like the Raiders. New Orleans is loaded with talent across offense, defense, and special teams, and they’re bringing a serious challenge to Las Vegas this Sunday.
Moore’s offense is firing on all cylinders, averaging a blistering 383.5 yards and 27.0 points per game, putting them seventh overall in the league. Their aerial attack is second overall, throwing for 305.5 passing yards per game! That’s the kind of firepower that can carve up any defense.
Shough and Olave Are Unleashed
This insane passing game is led by second-year quarterback Tyler Shough, who’s not just playing well, he’s leading the entire league with 662 passing yards heading into Week 3! Talk about a breakout. His top target, wide receiver Chris Olave, is off to an absolutely explosive start. Olave has 18 receptions for 268 yards and a touchdown already. He’s also leading the NFL with 13 catches for first downs, which is just clutch. We saw what he did against the Ravens in Week 2, snagging eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown in their 24-17 win. And it’s not just those two: fellow wideout Devaughn Vele has 12 catches for 133 yards and a score, while tight end Juwan Johnson adds seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. This Saints passing game is deep and dangerous.
Raiders’ elite edge rusher Maxx Crosby keeps saying “More is required,” and honestly, that’s the perfect mentality for this matchup. Crosby and the Raiders’ secondary have played well so far, but this Saints offense, with Moore’s love for attacking all over the field, is a rigorous test. The Raiders’ pass rush and coverage absolutely have to be on point to combat this productive passing game. Can they rise to the occasion and keep that 2-0 start rolling? This Sunday will tell us everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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