On Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders shocked the football world with a 35-27 road win over the New Orleans Saints. Many fans in Raider Nation expected the team to compete, but the national media did not agree. Head coach Klint Kubiak has quickly established himself as an outstanding hire.
After winning their first three games, the Raiders can now look ahead to a possible playoff run. That will be difficult, however, unless some players on the roster take their play to the next level. This is not one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, but Kubiak is maximizing the potential of every player. If a couple of players step up, the Silver and Black could be a scary team in the postseason.
First, though, the Raiders must get through a tough stretch of games. Before they can think about the playoffs, they need to win the games right in front of them.
Maxx Crosby needs to be the Defensive Player of the Year
“The Condor” is one of the best players in the NFL, but his presence was barely felt in Week 3. Crosby is either chipped or double-teamed on almost every snap, and that attention allows players like Malcolm Koonce to attack their matchups one-on-one and make plays.
Players like Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt have always been a tier above No. 98, but Crosby’s production has still been unusually quiet. Crosby has one sack on the season, which puts him third on the team’s sack list. In his career, he has never failed to lead the Raiders in sacks.
That lack of pressure showed against the Saints. Tyler Shough was rarely forced off his spot, and the Raiders cannot let that happen again because their upcoming schedule includes elite quarterbacks.
Related: Klint Kubiak’s Raiders have found their identity in the fourth quarter
Mike Washington Jr. is outplaying Ashton Jeanty
It has been a storyline since the preseason. The 2026 fourth-round rookie is having more success than the 2025 number six overall pick. Jeanty looked very explosive against the Miami Dolphins, but when he faced a competent defense everything changed.
Not only has the explosiveness been missing, but he has also been dropping passes. “The Silver Surfer” has an improved offensive line this year but is only averaging three yards per carry. A dominant run game will be crucial to beating the top-tier teams in the NFL.
Jeanty needs to take over more of these games.
Treydan Stukes is the starting free safety
Before this season, passing against the Raiders was simple: Find where Isaiah Pola-Mao is and attack him. That theme held true once again Sunday, when the safety allowed multiple touchdowns. Pola-Mao has a 45.6 PFF grade this season.
Stukes, on the other hand, already has an interception and has been a drastic improvement. General manager John Spytek’s decision to draft a safety in the second round over a defensive tackle or wide receiver came as a slight shock to Raiders fans, but it has proven to be the team’s biggest improvement from last season.
That matters because the Kansas City Chiefs are a juggernaut. To beat them, everybody needs to step up, but these three players can impact the game the most.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustrations/Getty Images