- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
The Las Vegas Raiders enter Week 6 at 3-2 and would qualify for the postseason if the campaign ended today, but they carry momentum concerns after a 45-17 defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Coach Klint Kubiak, a first-time head coach, stood by quarterback Kirk Cousins despite the veteran's struggles against New England. Cousins finished 19 of 28 for 243 yards and one touchdown while missing open targets, locking onto rookie tight end Brock Bowers, and holding the ball too long. Kubiak said simply that Kirk is the starter. The 38-year-old has thrown for 1,269 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions with a 65.1 percent completion rate and 100.7 passer rating. His dozen scoring strikes rank second-most through five weeks in his career, trailing only the 13 he posted with Minnesota in 2023.
Defensive end Maxx Crosby leads the club with 25 pressures and has been chipped 36 times. Fellow edge rusher Malcolm Koonce has generated 17 pressures total, second on the team, with three sacks over the past four contests. The defense has forced the second-most takeaways in the NFL with 10.
Running back Ashton Jeanty has been limited by ankle and foot ailments, though Kubiak indicated Wednesday the rookie is feeling a lot better. The rushing attack ranks 28th at 82 yards per game. Las Vegas next faces the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at 4:25 ET on CBS.
Source: ESPN - Fri Oct 16, 6:00 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).