Raiders vs. Jets Week 8: Winners and Losers from Las Vegas Comeback Win

Raiders vs. Jets Week 8: Winners and Losers from Las Vegas Comeback Win

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Kirk Cousins erased weeks of mounting pressure on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2026, anchoring a 38-33 comeback victory over the New York Jets that definitively silences talk of a quarterback change in Las Vegas. Trailing by two possessions at halftime, the Raiders completed a second-half surge that snapped a four-stroke losing skid and stabilized their standing in the AFC playoff race, as silverandblackpride.com reported.

How Cousins Salvaged His Job With Career-Best Efficiency

October was a disaster for the franchise, prompting loud public calls for Fernando Mendoza to take over under center as the calendar flipped to November. Instead, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak kept his faith in Cousins. That gamble paid off immediately.

The 38-year-old veteran delivered arguably his finest outing of the campaign, completing 19 of 26 passes for 247 yards. His 73.1% completion percentage set a season high, accompanied by four passing touchdowns and a rushing score that capped off with his viral “Wellness Celebration.” According to Pro Football Focus tracking cited by silverandblackpride.com, Cousins accounted for every single touchdown the Raiders scored in New York while throwing a pair of big-time throws for a season-best 6.9% BTT rate. Crucially, he committed zero turnover-worthy plays.

This performance buys Cousins at least two more starts as the Silver and Black chase the AFC’s third wild card spot.

Bowers Dominates While Defensive Vulnerabilities Persist

Tight end Brock Bowers continued his dominant stretch, earning the highest PFF receiving grade (92.2) of any pass-catcher in Week 8 prior to Monday Night Football. Bowers reeled in seven of nine targets for 92 yards and two touchdowns, including two successful grabs on three contested targets. Despite missing the first two weeks of the season, Bowers now ranks tied for second among all NFL tight ends in receptions (41), first in yards (547), and tied for second in touchdowns.

Raiders vs. Jets Week 8: Winners and Losers from Las Vegas Comeback Win
Photo: raiders.com

Yet, the victory masked severe defensive shortcomings. Cornerback Stokes faced intense pressure as the Jets targeted him 11 times—seven more than any other Las Vegas defender. Stokes surrendered seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown, struggling mightily against out-breaking routes that exposed his change-of-direction limitations. Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell capitalized on those weaknesses, catching seven passes for 73 yards and a score.

On the other side of the secondary, veteran nickelback Johnson successfully neutralized rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., holding him without a target after Cooper entered the matchup having racked up 11 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns over his previous two games.

Run Game Adjustments and Special Teams Brilliance

The Raiders’ ground game underwent a notable shift, with Mike Washington Jr. handling 25 carries compared to just two for Ashton Jeanty. While New York was missing its top run defender, defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, Kubiak leaned heavily on the hot hand to keep the offense on schedule.

Meanwhile, punt and kick returner Laube electrified the matchup once more. After entering the week leading all qualifying kick returners in yards per return, Laube took a 95-yard kick to the house.

Despite the offensive heroics and special teams touchdowns, Las Vegas’s run defense remains a liability. While the Raiders stiffened inside the red zone—holding the Jets to just two touchdowns on six trips—the defense still surrendered 290 passing yards.

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