The Las Vegas Raiders snapped a four-game losing streak and are back at .500 following their win over the New York Jets. In the first half, the defense struggled to stop the Jets, but it tightened up after halftime, and the offense scored three touchdowns.
Even in victory, the Raiders must do some self-scouting to make adjustments ahead of their next opponent, though it's fair to acknowledge the players who helped lead them to a much-needed win on the team's second East Coast trip of the season.
Among the Raiders' 2026 free-agent pickups, a few stood out for better or worse. One player may have solidified his short-term future with the team. On the flip side, defensive coordinator Rob Leonard should have growing concerns about the secondary.
Kirk Cousins showed why he's QB1, and the Raiders may need to shake up the cornerback group
QB Kirk Cousins: Stock Up
Cousins has earned the right to transform into his alter ego, Kirko Chainz. Following a Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, many thought head coach Klint Kubiak needed to bench him and usher in the Fernando Mendoza era.
Cousins responded by throwing for 247 yards, three touchdowns and scoring on a quarterback sneak. He played a clean, efficient game without turnovers and led the Raiders' second-half comeback, giving us a quirky touchdown celebration in the process.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Raiders will start Cousins "as long as possible."
As long as the Raiders are in the playoff picture, Cousins will likely remain the starter. While fans would like to see the team give the No. 1 overall pick valuable playing time, they'll need to be patient for now.
Eventually, Mendoza will take over, though barring an injury to Cousins, it's unlikely to happen until late in the season if the team falls out of postseason contention.
WR Jalen Nailor: Stock Up
Jalen Nailor had his best game as a Raider, catching four passes for 38 yards and a touchdown. He logged the go-ahead score early in the fourth quarter, putting Las Vegas up 35-30. Matt Gay closed out regulation with a field goal.
In his first six games, Nailor was a non-factor in the Raiders' offense, finishing with 27 or fewer yards in each game. He missed an outing while in concussion protocol and returned to action in Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills.
Leading up to last Sunday's game, Cousins talked about rewarding Nailor for gaining separation on his routes.
"I think when you watch the tape, you see him separating," Cousins said via The Athletic's Sam Warren. "I've told him, 'You're doing a lot of good things. We need to, I need to give you the opportunities to make it right,' if that makes sense."
Nailor could use the previous game as a momentum booster for the remainder of the season.
CB: Eric Stokes: Stock Down
The Raiders' defense is still leaky, and it's not just the run defense. Geno Smith threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns; he threw an interception on a late fourth-quarter desperation heave to the end zone. Wideout Adonai Mitchell caught seven passes for a career-high 142 yards and a touchdown.
Smith frequently targeted cornerback Eric Stokes, who gave up seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown in coverage, posting a 116.1 passer rating, per Pro Football Focus.
On a new three-year, $30 million deal, Stokes has been inconsistent in his perimeter coverage. With only one career interception in six seasons, he's not a threat to force turnovers, which is what you'd like to see from a No. 1 cornerback.
Stokes is best as a No. 2 cornerback, but the Raiders have a young group behind him with rookie fifth-rounder Hezekiah Masses, rookie fourth-rounder Jermod McCoy and second-year pro Darien Porter all getting snaps on the opposite boundary.
At times, defensive coordinator Rob Leonard will need to protect Stokes with safety help. The sixth-year pro had rough outings last Sunday, against the New England Patriots in Week 5 and against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3.
Moe Moton writes about the Raiders for Just Blog Baby. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.
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