The Las Vegas Raiders defeated the New Orleans Saints 35–27 on September 27, 2026, at Caesars Superdome. The Week 3 matchup featured a major second-half swing as Las Vegas erased an 11-point deficit. The Raiders entered the fourth quarter behind after New Orleans built a 27–16 advantage. Las Vegas then scored 19 unanswered points to complete the comeback. The victory moved the Raiders to 3–0, while the Saints fell to 1–2 after losing control of the game late.
Kirk Cousins led the Raiders with 248 passing yards and three touchdowns. Brock Bowers made his 2026 season debut and immediately became a major part of the offense. He caught 10 passes for 116 yards and one touchdown. New Orleans also produced strong offensive numbers, with Tyler Shough throwing four touchdown passes. However, the Saints committed four turnovers, including several during the fourth quarter. Those mistakes allowed Las Vegas to turn a seven-point deficit into an eight-point victory.
Match Details
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Las Vegas Raiders vs New Orleans Saints |
| Date | September 27, 2026 |
| Competition | NFL Regular Season, Week 3 |
| Venue | Caesars Superdome |
| Location | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Final Score | Raiders 35, Saints 27 |
| Raiders Record | 3–0 |
| Saints Record | 1–2 |
The game took place at Caesars Superdome during Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season. New Orleans controlled the ball for 32:28, compared with 27:32 for Las Vegas. The Saints also produced 381 total yards, while the Raiders finished with 340. Despite those yardage and possession advantages for New Orleans, Las Vegas converted its late opportunities more effectively.
Turnovers became the clearest statistical difference. The Raiders committed one turnover, while New Orleans committed four. The Saints’ fourth-quarter mistakes directly contributed to the Raiders’ comeback. Las Vegas also finished with only five penalties for 19 yards, compared with eight penalties for 36 yards by New Orleans.
Final Score and Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
| Quarter | Las Vegas Raiders | New Orleans Saints |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 3 | 6 |
| Q2 | 13 | 7 |
| Q3 | 6 | 14 |
| Q4 | 13 | 0 |
| Final | 35 | 27 |
The Raiders opened the scoring with Matt Gay’s 41-yard field goal. New Orleans responded with Tyler Shough’s two-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson. Gay later added another field goal before Kirk Cousins connected with Michael Mayer for a three-yard touchdown. The Saints tied the game through Noah Fant before Gay’s 25-yard field goal gave Las Vegas a 16–13 halftime lead.
New Orleans then produced its strongest stretch after halftime. Shough threw touchdown passes to Johnson and Fant, giving the Saints a 27–16 advantage. Las Vegas responded with Mike Washington Jr.’s 36-yard rushing touchdown. The Raiders then dominated the fourth quarter, scoring touchdowns through Cody White and Bowers while holding New Orleans scoreless.
Las Vegas Raiders Player Stats
| Player | Position | Key Statistics |
|---|---|---|
| Kirk Cousins | QB | 22/33, 248 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT |
| Ashton Jeanty | RB | 19 carries, 56 yards |
| Mike Washington Jr. | RB | 5 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD |
| Brock Bowers | TE | 10 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD |
| Tre Tucker | WR | 4 receptions, 43 yards |
| Michael Mayer | TE | 3 receptions, 32 yards, 1 TD |
| Cody White | WR | 1 reception, 4 yards, 1 TD |
Kirk Cousins completed 22 of 33 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. His passing efficiency helped Las Vegas maintain its comeback after the Saints moved ahead by 11 points. Cousins found Michael Mayer for the Raiders’ first offensive touchdown and later connected with Cody White and Bowers during the fourth-quarter comeback.
Brock Bowers provided the biggest receiving performance for Las Vegas. In his first game of the 2026 season, he caught 10 of his 13 targets for 116 yards and a touchdown. Ashton Jeanty carried 19 times for 56 yards, while Mike Washington Jr. added 54 rushing yards on only five attempts. Washington’s 36-yard touchdown run gave Las Vegas important momentum late in the third quarter.
New Orleans Saints Player Stats
| Player | Position | Key Statistics |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Shough | QB | 29/42, 250 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT |
| Travis Etienne Jr. | RB | 13 carries, 57 yards |
| Alvin Kamara | RB | 9 carries, 36 yards |
| Chris Olave | WR | 9 receptions, 107 yards |
| Juwan Johnson | TE | 8 receptions, 53 yards, 2 TD |
| Noah Fant | TE | 4 receptions, 33 yards, 2 TD |
| Devaughn Vele | WR | 3 receptions, 39 yards |
Tyler Shough produced four touchdown passes and 250 passing yards on 29 completions from 42 attempts. His four touchdowns all went to tight ends, with Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant each catching two. Shough’s performance helped New Orleans build its 27–16 lead, but a lost fumble and a later interception changed the game’s direction.
Chris Olave was the Saints’ leading receiver with nine catches for 107 yards. Johnson caught eight passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns, while Fant added four catches for 33 yards and two scores. Travis Etienne Jr. led New Orleans in rushing with 57 yards on 13 attempts, while Alvin Kamara contributed 36 yards on nine carries.
Kirk Cousins vs Tyler Shough Passing Stats
| Quarterback | Completions/Attempts | Passing Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirk Cousins | 22/33 | 248 | 3 | 0 |
| Tyler Shough | 29/42 | 250 | 4 | 1 |
The passing statistics show that both quarterbacks produced substantial yardage. Shough completed seven more passes than Cousins and threw for two more touchdowns. However, his interception and lost fumble came during a critical fourth-quarter sequence. Cousins avoided an interception and completed three touchdown passes during the Raiders’ comeback.
Cousins also finished with a passer rating of 119.3, according to the game box score. He did take three sacks for 21 yards, but he protected the ball through the air. Shough’s four touchdown passes were impressive, yet his late turnovers gave Las Vegas short-field opportunities that the Raiders converted into points.
Rushing and Receiving Comparison
| Player | Team | Rush Yards | Rush TD | Rec Yards | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashton Jeanty | LV | 56 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Mike Washington Jr. | LV | 54 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Travis Etienne Jr. | NO | 57 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Alvin Kamara | NO | 36 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Brock Bowers | LV | — | — | 116 | 1 |
| Chris Olave | NO | — | — | 107 | 0 |
Las Vegas received its most important rushing contribution from Mike Washington Jr., whose 36-yard touchdown was the team’s only rushing score. Jeanty handled the largest workload with 19 carries and added 37 receiving yards. The Raiders’ rushing attack produced enough late momentum to complement Cousins’ passing game.
New Orleans gained more total offensive yards but could not turn that production into a fourth-quarter score. Etienne led the Saints’ rushing attack, while Olave and Johnson carried much of the receiving workload. The Saints finished with 376 yards in the official team recap, compared with 340 for Las Vegas.
Brock Bowers Makes Strong 2026 Debut
Brock Bowers’ return was one of the biggest individual storylines from the matchup. The Raiders tight end had missed the opening portion of the season, but immediately became a major target for Cousins. Bowers caught 10 passes for 116 yards and scored a four-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. His production gave Las Vegas another reliable option during the comeback.
Bowers’ touchdown came with 6:28 remaining in the fourth quarter. Cousins found him for four yards, and Matt Gay’s extra point extended the Raiders’ lead to 35–27. The Saints could not answer afterward. Bowers’ return therefore coincided with a decisive late-game offensive sequence for an undefeated Raiders team.
Fourth-Quarter Turnovers Changed the Game
The Saints entered the fourth quarter with a 27–22 lead after Washington’s touchdown for Las Vegas. The turning point arrived when Maxx Crosby recovered a Shough fumble after a sack. The Raiders converted the resulting possession into Cousins’ four-yard touchdown pass to Cody White, taking a 28–27 lead.
New Orleans then suffered another major mistake when Shough was intercepted on the following possession. Las Vegas took over near the Saints’ goal line and Cousins quickly connected with Bowers for another touchdown. Johnson later lost a fumble with 53 seconds remaining, ending New Orleans’ final realistic opportunity. The Saints committed four turnovers overall, including three lost fumbles and one interception.
Team Comparison
| Team Statistic | Raiders | Saints |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 340 | 381 |
| Plays | 63 | 72 |
| Yards per play | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Rushing attempts | 27 | 28 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Penalties | 5 | 8 |
| Penalty yards | 19 | 36 |
| Time of possession | 27:32 | 32:28 |
The Saints finished with more total yards, more offensive plays and more possession time. New Orleans also averaged slightly fewer yards per play than Las Vegas. The biggest statistical difference was turnovers. The Saints lost three fumbles and threw one interception, while the Raiders lost one fumble.
Las Vegas also committed fewer penalties and surrendered only 19 penalty yards. New Orleans had eight penalties for 36 yards. The Raiders therefore combined cleaner execution with better fourth-quarter ball security. Those factors helped overcome the Saints’ advantage in offensive volume and total yardage.
Key Turning Points and Game Highlights
The first major sequence came before halftime. Las Vegas led 13–6 after Mayer’s touchdown, but New Orleans answered with Fant’s three-yard touchdown reception. Gay then kicked a 25-yard field goal at the end of the half, putting the Raiders ahead 16–13. That field goal became important because the Saints later created an 11-point advantage.
The biggest swing came after New Orleans reached 27–16. Washington’s 36-yard touchdown reduced the deficit, and the Raiders then forced the turnovers that changed the game. Cody White’s touchdown put Las Vegas ahead, while Bowers’ score extended the lead to eight points. Johnson’s late fumble ended the Saints’ comeback attempt and allowed Cousins to take a knee to close the game.
Conclusion
The Las Vegas Raiders defeated the New Orleans Saints 35–27 after overcoming an 11-point second-half deficit. Kirk Cousins finished with 248 yards and three touchdowns, while Brock Bowers made an immediate impact with 116 receiving yards and a touchdown. Mike Washington Jr. also delivered a 36-yard rushing touchdown that helped shift momentum. The Raiders’ fourth-quarter defense then forced critical turnovers and gave the offense favorable opportunities during the comeback.
The Saints produced 381 total yards and Tyler Shough threw four touchdown passes, but four turnovers ultimately shaped the final result. Chris Olave led New Orleans with 107 receiving yards, while Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant each caught two touchdown passes. Las Vegas scored 13 fourth-quarter points while holding New Orleans scoreless. The victory moved the Raiders to 3–0, while the Saints dropped to 1–2.
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