Last week, the Las Vegas Raiders had their sloppiest game of the season, committing five turnovers, and their defense is on the wrong side of history, tying an NFL record of giving up 30-plus points in six consecutive games.
On Monday, head coach Klint Kubiak stood by defensive coordinator Rob Leonard despite the subpar results, but at some point, he must understand Einstein's definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
So, what's been going wrong with the Raiders defense, and what's the lasting impression of Kirk Cousins' short time in Las Vegas?
Once again, key free agents didn't play up to expectations, but Kirk Cousins leaves the Raiders with another roster-building resource
QB Kirk Cousins: Stock down for Week 9 (stock up for the 2026 season)
Kirk Cousins followed up one of his best games of the season with arguably his worst in his last outing with the Raiders, throwing for 216 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. He struggled under duress, completing three of 10 passes for 26 yards and three interceptions when pressured, per Pro Football Focus.
Despite Cousins' turnover-ridden outing, the Raiders were still able to trade him to the Minnesota Vikings for a third-round pick before Tuesday's deadline, which speaks to his overall production. He's also familiar with Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense, having performed at a Pro Bowl level in that system for the 2022 campaign.
Cousins threw for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine starts in Las Vegas and mentored rookie Fernando Mendoza for about six months, which is as good as it gets for a bridge-gap quarterback.
Although Cousins' tenure with the Raiders doesn't end on a high note, he led the fifth-ranked passing attack as a quality free-agent signing.
CB Eric Stokes: Stock down
For consecutive weeks, Eric Stokes' stock has fallen as he continues to struggle in coverage and give up big plays. According to Pro Football Focus, Stokes has allowed a 20-plus-yard reception in five of his previous six outings.
Last Sunday, Stokes allowed two catches for 35 yards, posting a 118.8 passer rating allowed, and he missed a tackle per PFF.
Regarded as the Raiders' No. 1 cornerback, Stokes has underperformed in that role. With rookie fourth-rounder Jermod McCoy starting to play more snaps over the last two weeks, it's fair to wonder whether the coaching staff will soon reduce Stokes' workload, even though the team signed him to a three-year, $30 million deal this past offseason.
LB: Quay Walker: Stock down
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy found a favorable matchup against the Raiders linebackers in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, he went 5-for-5 for 85 yards and a touchdown, targeting Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean and Tommy Eichenberg.
Among the Raiders' linebacker trio, Walker gave up the touchdown and a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
Leonard expanded Walker's duties beyond run fits, though he may have to scale them back if opposing quarterbacks start targeting him more frequently. The Raiders should rely more on their safeties to supplement their short-to-intermediate pass coverage.
Moe Moton writes about the Raiders for Just Blog Baby. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.
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