HENDERSON, Nev. -- The Las Vegas Raiders' 45-17 loss in Week 5 to the New England Patriots was bad. They were outplayed in all three phases. But the team is not hanging their heads and letting a brutal afternoon in Foxborough, Massachusetts, take away from all the strides they have made under first-time coach Klint Kubiak.
Through five games, the Raiders are in a better situation than most would've expected entering the season. They are 3-2 ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Buffalo Bills (4:25 ET on CBS), and would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.
They have scored 25-plus points in four of five games. Meanwhile, the defense has recorded the second-most takeaways in the NFL (10).
"It was a bad game overall. Everyone knows that, from coaches to players," defensive end Maxx Crosby said Wednesday. "I think this team is resilient. We love being around each other, and we expect to be a lot better this week."
If the Raiders want to make sure last week's performance was an outlier instead of a sign of what's to come, they have to make significant improvements on both sides of the ball. With that said, here are five takeaways from five weeks of the Raiders' season, including potential changes needed at offensive line and inconsistent production in the run game.
Kirk Cousins is beating Father Time. But for how much longer?
Cousins, 38, has played well. He has thrown for 1,269 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. The 15-year veteran quarterback also has a 65.1% completion rate and a passer rating of 100.7. Cousins' touchdown total is the second-most through the first five weeks in his career. (He threw 13 touchdowns between Weeks 1-5 for the Minnesota Vikings in 2023.)
Cousins wasn't the sole reason for the Raiders being steamrolled by the Patriots in Week 5. But he didn't have his finest outing. Sure, his numbers looked fine. Cousins completed 19 of 28 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown despite being under duress throughout the game. However, Cousins missed open targets because he either stared down tight end Brock Bowers or held the ball too long.
And when rookie Fernando Mendoza replaced him late in the fourth quarter, the 2026 No. 1 pick showed off the mobility that Cousins lacks. Still, the Raiders are far from making a change at quarterback. The team has been satisfied with Cousins' performance thus far.
"That's why [Cousins is] here. We have a lot of confidence in him," Kubiak said. "Kirk's the starter, and if Fernando's called upon, he'll be ready to go just like he was [last week]."
Yes, he doesn't have the arm strength, and it's harder for him to extend plays with his legs. But Cousins is the reason the Raiders have a winning record.
Las Vegas ranks ninth in points per game (26) despite relying heavily on the passing game due to struggles to run the ball. His relationship with Kubiak and knowledge of the offense have been invaluable. More importantly, he has made smart decisions with the ball.
If the Raiders' losing streak continues, and Cousins has similar performances to the one he had against New England, there would likely be conversations about giving Mendoza a chance to start. But for now, the team is fine with Cousins remaining the commander of the offense.
Growing pains kicking in for the Raiders' young secondary.
When relying on a secondary that consists of young players who are still adjusting to the pro level, growing pains are expected to occur. That's what Las Vegas has dealt with in recent weeks.
Rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses made a strong impression when he recorded two interceptions and earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 2. Since then, Masses has faced stronger competition and has been getting picked on in coverage. In the past three games, he has allowed nine catches for 155 yards, two touchdowns, a passer rating of 106.9 and a 60% completion rate.
Against the Patriots, Masses had to alternate reps with second-year cornerback Darien Porter, who also was inconsistent in coverage. He allowed a 49-yard reception to wide receiver Kyle Williams. Meanwhile, starting rookie safety Treydan Stukes gave up three catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. Stukes' performance featured moments when he looked lost in coverage and whiffed on tackles.
There's no reason to lose faith in the Raiders' young core in the secondary, including rookie cornerback Jermod McCoy, who has only played in 30 defensive snaps in four games. But patience will be required.
Will the run game ever get fixed?
Kubiak being tied to one of the league's worst rushing attacks -- 28th in yards per game (82) -- is a bit surprising. He's known for orchestrating a strong run game, which is why there was optimism that he could fix the Raiders' rushing woes from previous seasons. Instead, the Raiders are still searching for answers.
It's hard to pinpoint one specific thing that has led to the Raiders' struggles running the ball. It's been a byproduct of a multitude of issues. For starters, running back Ashton Jeanty hasn't been 100% healthy, dealing with an ankle and foot injury. Kubiak, however, said on Wednesday that Jeanty is feeling "a lot better" physically. Whenever Jeanty returns to full strength, he still has to improve his vision and take advantage of open lanes when it appears. The thing is, those open lanes have come in spurts since the offensive line has struggled in run blocking.
The Raiders could improve their rushing numbers by getting rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. involved. On 25 carries, Washington has posted a team-high five yards per attempt. Washington's issues in pass protection and pass catching have prevented him from fully taking on the role of RB2. He only had one carry for five yards in the loss to the Patriots.
Another element could be the lack of a vertical threat at wide receiver who can keep opposing defenses honest and not have them stack the box.
A consistent run game will allow the Raiders to reach their full offensive potential. They will be able to control the time of possession and be even more effective in the pass-action game. Until then, the Raiders figure things out, they will continue to be one-dimensional as an offense.
What has happened to Kwity Paye?
The Raiders signed Paye to a three-year, $48 million deal with the hope that he could improve their pass rush and be a reliable running mate to Crosby. His performance in the season-opening win over the Dolphins suggested as much. Paye recorded two sacks and five pressures.
Since then, Paye's production has declined drastically. In 154 defensive snaps over the past four games, Paye has six tackles, four run stops, three quarterback pressures and no sacks. Paye has been nonexistent to the point where Malcolm Koonce has made a strong case for more playing time.
In 110 defensive snaps during this stretch, Koonce has totaled eight tackles, eight run stops, 12 quarterback pressures and three sacks. Koonce's pressure total of 17 is second on the team.
The Raiders need Paye to step up, especially since opponents are chipping and double-teaming Crosby -- who has a team-high 25 pressures -- frequently. Crosby has been chipped 36 times -- fifth-most in the league. He has faced double teams on 10.1% of his pass rush snaps.
Changes within the offensive line could be on the horizon.
The Raiders might need to evaluate the left guard spot. Their decision to name Spencer Burford a starter to begin the season was understandable. He has experience playing in a West Coast offense, going back to his time with the San Francisco 49ers.
But he has been a liability as a pass and run blocker. In 189 pass-blocking snaps, Burford has allowed two sacks and 23 pressures -- the most among left guards in the league. He allowed seven quick quarterback pressures -- the number of pressures allowed by a blocker in less than 2.5 seconds after the snap.
Don't expect an immediate change at left guard. But if Burford's play continues to trend downward, Kubiak might not have a choice but to give one of his young guards a chance to start.
