Raiders' Impressive Start: Can They Keep It Up?

The Las Vegas Raiders are having a strong start to the 2023 NFL season, with fans and personnel executives noting their impressive performance. The Raiders' offense, led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, is scoring a lot of points and is considered one of the most fun offenses to watch. Coach Klint Kubiak, who worked with Cousins in Minnesota, has implemented a strong play-action passing game.

The Raiders' defense has some issues, but they are generating more heat on opposing quarterbacks than usual. The offense needs to maintain its explosive pace, with Cousins leading the NFL with 11 touchdown passes and Brock Bowers contributing significantly. If they can hang around .500 through Thanksgiving, with a very tough stretch of games the next six weeks, there will be real reason to believe the playoffs are possible, assuming relative health.

Only two-time MVP Lamar Jackson has a higher passer rating than Cousins this season on play-action passes (141.5 for Cousins), and Cousins leads the NFL with six touchdown passes on play action with six … and none to Bowers yet, which we know won’t be for much longer. Bowers already has 16 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns in just two games.