Raiders-Saints: 17 things we learned

The Las Vegas Raiders defeated the New Orleans Saints 35-27 on September 27, 2026, improving their season record to 3-0. The victory was marked by a significant second-half surge, as the Raiders erased an 11-point deficit while playing in New Orleans. Kirk Cousins led the offensive effort, throwing three touchdown passes to secure the win. Other key contributions came from Brock Bowers, who recorded his first touchdown catch of the 2026 season to help boost the lead to 34-27. The result leaves the New Orleans Saints with a 1-2 record following a performance described by some sources as a meltdown. Coverage from major outlets including ESPN, NBC Sports, and CBS Sports emphasizes the Raiders' undefeated start and the efficiency of Kirk Cousins.

Meanwhile, reports from NewOrleans.Football and NOLA.com highlight a different narrative, focusing on the Saints' struggles with bad protection, turnovers, and what they describe as trash officiating and controversial calls. The New Orleans Saints official website and Raiders.com both provided comprehensive game recaps, with the Raiders' site specifically noting that four key takeaways acted as a catalyst for their second-half rally against the Saints. This victory places the Las Vegas Raiders in a unique historical position. According to Yahoo Sports, the win sets the team up for an extremely rare Week 4 feat that has not been seen since 1977. The context of the game also includes significant personnel concerns for the Saints, as Yahoo Sports mentioned injury concerns surrounding Chris Olave and the team's star tight ends. The Saints' loss was further compounded by the performance of Tyler Shough, who NOLA.com reports unraveled during the game, contributing to the team's inability to hold their early lead.

Looking forward, the Raiders face a high-stakes matchup in Week 4. USA Today reports that a test against the Chiefs awaits, which will be a battle of unbeatens. The focus for the Raiders will be maintaining their 3-0 momentum, while the Saints must address the protection issues and turnover problems cited in the coverage. Observers will be watching to see if the Raiders can translate their comeback capability into a win against a similarly undefeated opponent in the coming week.