Kirk Cousins' Historic Start Propels Raiders to 2-0
Quarterback becomes first Raiders player since Ken Stabler in 1976 to throw three or more touchdowns in the first two games of a season.
Kirk Cousins has made an immediate impact for the Las Vegas Raiders, becoming the first quarterback in nearly 50 years to achieve a specific touchdown milestone. In the Raiders' 26-14 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Cousins completed 19 of 29 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns.
This marks the second consecutive game where the 38-year-old quarterback has thrown for three touchdowns. Cousins also achieved this feat in the Raiders' Week 1 win against the Miami Dolphins. This back-to-back performance makes Cousins the first Raiders quarterback to record three or more touchdown passes in both Week 1 and Week 2 of a regular season since Ken Stabler in 1976, according to CBS Sports.
The Raiders' strong start to the season, now standing at 2-0, contrasts with pre-season expectations that the team would not contend for a playoff spot. Cousins' early success has also raised questions about the future playing time for rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was drafted as the team's No. 1 overall pick. The initial sentiment was that Cousins would cede his starting position to Mendoza at some point during the season. However, Cousins' performance has made Mendoza's opportunity to take over the starting job less assured.
The Raiders will aim to continue their winning streak next Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, potentially positioning themselves for a 3-0 start to the season.