Kirk Cousins connects with Cody White for 2 TDs and Raiders beat Chargers 26-14
Cousins connected with White for a go-ahead, 13-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and an 11-yard score during the fourth, leading the Raiders to a 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the teams' AFC West opener on Sunday.
It was White's first career game with multiple TD receptions.
“Cody showed me a lot today,” Cousins said. “I guess those were my bank reps, just watching him play for Michigan State and then when he arrived try to translate that to here and now.”
Las Vegas (2-0) beat the Chargers (0-2) on the road for the first time since 2020, a game that was played without fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Raiders, who maintain a strong Southern California fan base, had lost four straight to the Chargers by double digits.
With No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza watching from the sideline, Cousins was 19 of 29 for 253 yards with three TDs and an interception. He got sacked twice.
Cousins joined Ken Stabler in 1976 as only the Raiders quarterbacks to throw three or more TD passes in each of their first two games.
“He’s been phenomenal,” said Raiders coach Klint Kubiak, who enjoyed a successful run with Cousins when they were both with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Chargers took their first lead, 14-10, on Justin Herbert’s 10-yard TD pass to Oronde Gadsden. Herbert fumbled and teammate Keaton Mitchell recovered at the Las Vegas 10-yard line. On the next play, Herbert spun out of a potential sack with Raiders star Maxx Crosby looming to connect with Gadsden.
The Raiders answered right back with the TD catch by White, who was elevated from the practice squad a day earlier. He also played in Las Vegas’ 27-13 win over Miami in Week 1 but did not have a catch.
“It just meant the world,” said White, whose family was on hand. “Just being able to go out there and make the plays when Kirk was able to give me some opportunities. It just felt amazing to go out there and get a win.”
Leading 17-14, the Raiders’ Jeremy Chinn recovered a fumble and returned it 43 yards with 3:52 remaining in the game. Omarion Hampton had a costly fumble for the second straight week and Chinn recovered, returning it to the Chargers 16-yard line.
Cousins then directed a three-play, 43-second drive that ended with White’s second TD catch and a 24-14 lead in front of a raucous, predominantly Raiders-supporting crowd at SoFi Stadium.
“It’s still really early, but certainly the goal is to build something that way outlasts me,” the 38-year-old Cousins said.
The Raiders led 7-0 on Tre Tucker’s 40-yard touchdown catch on the Chargers’ busted coverage in the second quarter. Rookie Genesis Smith, replacing injured Elijah Molden, lost Tucker, leaving him wide open.
Matt Gay’s career-best 59-yard field goal extended the lead to 10-7 just before halftime.
In his 100th NFL game, Jim Harbaugh fell to 0-2 for the first time in his college or pro coaching career, with the heavily favored Chargers also losing to Arizona 26-14 last week.
The Chargers were done in by six fumbles, among other miscues.
“The fight was there,” Harbaugh said. “We’re losing in the margins. That’s what we have to get fixed.”
A visibly frustrated Herbert was 15 of 26 for 192 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He took three sacks.
“That’s not good enough and can’t expect to win games like that when we’re playing like that,” he said. “If we’re not playing up to our standard, that’s on us to fix it.”
The Chargers' Joe Alt, one of the league's top tackles, had three false-start penalties and an offensive holding call that led to a Raiders safety in the closing minutes.
“Thought I saw what I saw and didn't,” Alt said. “Got to be better.”
The Chargers' opening drive of the game ended with Cameron Dicker's 58-yard field-goal attempt hitting the crossbar. He'd previously made 59 of 63 field goals at home.
Injuries
Raiders: S Treydan Stukes was hurt in the third quarter.
Chargers: S Derwin James Jr. (hand) got hurt late in the first quarter, but returned before halftime. ... TE David Njoku (knee) was taken off in a cart early in the second quarter and did not return. ... DL Dalvin Tomlinson was hurt in the fourth.
Up next
Raiders: Visit New Orleans next Sunday.
Chargers: Visit undefeated Buffalo next Sunday in their first road game of season.
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