The Las Vegas Raiders came from behind to defeat the New Orleans Saints 35–27 in a dramatic Week 3 matchup on September 27, 2026. The game took place at Caesars Superdome, where New Orleans built an 11-point lead in the second half. Las Vegas then scored 19 unanswered points to complete the comeback and remain unbeaten at 3–0. The Raiders also forced four turnovers, which became the biggest difference in the final stages.
The Las Vegas Raiders vs New Orleans Saints match player stats featured strong quarterback performances, productive receiving games and several important defensive plays. Kirk Cousins completed 22 of 33 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Saints quarterback Tyler Shough threw for 255 yards and four touchdowns, but he also lost two fumbles and threw one interception. Brock Bowers led all Raiders receivers with 116 yards and one touchdown.
Final Score
Las Vegas started the game with a 41-yard Matt Gay field goal, but New Orleans answered with a touchdown from Juwan Johnson. The Raiders then controlled much of the second quarter, adding two more field goals and a three-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to Michael Mayer. The Saints tied the game at 13–13 through Noah Fant before Gay’s third field goal gave Las Vegas a 16–13 halftime advantage.
New Orleans changed the momentum after halftime. Shough threw touchdown passes to Johnson and Fant, with Fant’s second score putting the Saints ahead 27–16. Las Vegas responded through rookie Mike Washington Jr., who broke a 36-yard touchdown run. Cody White and Bowers then caught fourth-quarter touchdown passes from Cousins as the Raiders completed the comeback.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Raiders | 3 | 13 | 6 | 13 | 35 |
| New Orleans Saints | 6 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 27 |
Match Details
The matchup was played Sunday, September 27, 2026, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The game officially counts as Week 3 of the 2026 NFL regular season. Although some viewers in other time zones saw the contest on September 28, the official game date in the United States was September 27.
The result moved Las Vegas to 3–0 and dropped New Orleans to 1–2. The Saints actually produced more total yardage in several statistical summaries and converted nine of 15 third downs, but their four turnovers gave the Raiders extra opportunities. Las Vegas finished with only one turnover and converted seven of 12 third downs.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Las Vegas Raiders vs New Orleans Saints |
| Date | September 27, 2026 |
| Week | NFL Week 3 |
| Venue | Caesars Superdome |
| Location | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Final Score | Raiders 35, Saints 27 |
| Raiders Record | 3–0 |
| Saints Record | 1–2 |
Match Overview
The Saints appeared to have control after building a 27–16 lead in the third quarter. Shough was especially effective during the Saints’ scoring surge, throwing four touchdown passes. Juwan Johnson caught two of those scores, while Noah Fant also caught two. The Saints’ offense moved efficiently on third down and created a difficult challenge for the Raiders defense.
The game changed when Las Vegas began creating turnovers. Malcolm Koonce forced a strip-sack that Maxx Crosby recovered, and rookie Hezekiah Masses later intercepted Shough. Jeremy Chinn and Nakobe Dean also helped create late turnovers. The Raiders turned those defensive plays into points and scored 19 unanswered points during the final 17:26 of the contest.
Team Statistics Breakdown
The Raiders produced 361 total yards in the available box-score data, including 248 passing yards and 113 rushing yards. Las Vegas converted seven of 12 third-down attempts and went 3-for-6 in the red zone. The passing game carried much of the offense, with Cousins connecting repeatedly with Bowers after the tight end returned to action.
New Orleans recorded 403 total yards in the same box-score source, with 255 passing yards and 148 rushing yards. The Saints converted nine of 15 third downs and went 4-for-4 in the red zone. However, the four turnovers proved costly, especially because three of them came during the decisive fourth-quarter period.
| Team Statistic | Raiders | Saints |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 361 | 403 |
| Passing Yards | 248 | 255 |
| Rushing Yards | 113 | 148 |
| First Downs | 24 | 27 |
| 3rd Down | 7/12 | 9/15 |
| Red Zone | 3/6 | 4/4 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Possession | 27:32 | 32:28 |
Quarterback Performance
Kirk Cousins delivered an efficient performance for Las Vegas. He completed 22 of 33 attempts for 248 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. His 119.3 passer rating reflected the efficiency of his passing game. Cousins also connected with Bowers 10 times and threw the decisive fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Cody White and Bowers.
Tyler Shough produced impressive numbers for New Orleans despite the loss. He completed 29 of 42 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. He also rushed for 36 yards. However, Shough lost two fumbles, including a crucial fourth-quarter strip-sack, and the turnovers helped Las Vegas erase the Saints’ lead.
| Quarterback | Comp/Att | Passing Yards | TD | INT | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirk Cousins | 22/33 | 248 | 3 | 0 | 119.3 |
| Tyler Shough | 29/42 | 255 | 4 | 1 | 73.9 |
Rushing Statistics
Ashton Jeanty led the Raiders in rushing with 19 carries for 56 yards. Mike Washington Jr. provided the biggest rushing play of the game for Las Vegas, taking five carries for 54 yards and scoring on a 36-yard run. Cousins added three rushing yards, while the Raiders relied more heavily on their passing attack during the comeback.
Travis Etienne Jr. led New Orleans with 57 rushing yards on 13 carries. Shough added 36 yards on one long scramble, while Alvin Kamara finished with 36 yards on nine attempts. The Saints’ 148 rushing yards gave them a statistical advantage on the ground, but their turnovers prevented that production from translating into a victory.
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashton Jeanty | LV | 19 | 56 | 0 | 12 |
| Mike Washington Jr. | LV | 5 | 54 | 1 | 36 |
| Kirk Cousins | LV | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Travis Etienne Jr. | NO | 13 | 57 | 0 | 16 |
| Alvin Kamara | NO | 9 | 36 | 0 | 11 |
| Tyler Shough | NO | 1 | 36 | 0 | 36 |
| Kendre Miller | NO | 4 | 14 | 0 | 5 |
Receiving Statistics
Brock Bowers made an immediate impact in his 2026 debut. The Raiders tight end caught 10 of 13 targets for 116 yards and one touchdown. His four-yard touchdown reception from Cousins came in the fourth quarter and gave Las Vegas a 35–27 lead. Tre Tucker added four receptions for 43 yards, while Michael Mayer caught three passes for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Chris Olave led the Saints with nine receptions for 107 yards on 13 targets. Juwan Johnson caught eight passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns, while Noah Fant added four receptions for 33 yards and two scores. Shough therefore found his tight ends frequently, but the Saints could not maintain their advantage once turnovers started disrupting their offense.
| Receiver | Team | Receptions | Yards | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brock Bowers | LV | 10 | 116 | 1 | 20 |
| Tre Tucker | LV | 4 | 43 | 0 | 15 |
| Ashton Jeanty | LV | 3 | 37 | 0 | 22 |
| Michael Mayer | LV | 3 | 32 | 1 | 18 |
| Chris Olave | NO | 9 | 107 | 0 | 19 |
| Juwan Johnson | NO | 8 | 53 | 2 | 22 |
| Noah Fant | NO | 4 | 33 | 2 | 16 |
| Devaughn Vele | NO | 3 | 39 | 0 | 17 |
Key Player Performances
Bowers was the standout offensive performer for Las Vegas in his return. After missing the first two games, he immediately became a major part of the Raiders passing attack. He caught three passes for 37 yards on the opening drive alone and finished with 116 receiving yards and a touchdown. Cousins also played an important role by avoiding interceptions and making three touchdown throws.
The Raiders defense also produced several key individual moments. Koonce forced a strip-sack that Crosby recovered, Masses intercepted Shough and Chinn later produced another strip-sack. Nakobe Dean forced another fumble and finished with 12 tackles, including 11 solo stops. Those defensive plays helped turn a 27–16 deficit into a 35–27 victory.
| Player | Key Stat |
|---|---|
| Kirk Cousins | 248 pass yards, 3 TD, 0 INT |
| Brock Bowers | 10 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD |
| Mike Washington Jr. | 54 rush yards, 1 TD |
| Ashton Jeanty | 56 rush yards |
| Tyler Shough | 255 pass yards, 4 TD, 1 INT |
| Chris Olave | 9 receptions, 107 yards |
| Juwan Johnson | 8 receptions, 53 yards, 2 TD |
| Noah Fant | 4 receptions, 33 yards, 2 TD |
| Nakobe Dean | 12 tackles, forced fumble |
Important Game Moments
The first half remained competitive, with the Raiders taking a 16–13 lead into halftime. New Orleans then produced two quick touchdown drives in the third quarter. Johnson scored his second touchdown before Fant caught another Shough touchdown pass, putting the Saints ahead 27–16. Washington’s 36-yard rushing touchdown later reduced the deficit to five points.
The biggest sequence arrived in the fourth quarter. Koonce’s strip-sack gave Las Vegas possession, and Cousins later found Cody White for a four-yard touchdown. Masses then intercepted Shough and returned the ball close to the goal line. Cousins converted the opportunity by finding Bowers for a four-yard touchdown. The Raiders defense forced additional turnovers afterward to protect the eight-point lead.
Turning Point
The turning point came after New Orleans led 27–16. Washington’s touchdown gave Las Vegas a chance to regain momentum, but the defense completed the shift by forcing a strip-sack on Shough. Crosby recovered the fumble, giving the Raiders a short-field opportunity. Cousins then connected with Cody White for a touchdown, bringing Las Vegas within one point.
The next major defensive play came when Masses intercepted Shough and returned the ball down near the goal line. That turnover set up Bowers’ four-yard touchdown catch and gave the Raiders a 35–27 advantage. Las Vegas then forced two more fourth-quarter turnovers, allowing the team to finish the comeback without surrendering another point.
Match Summary
The Las Vegas Raiders vs New Orleans Saints match player stats show a game where New Orleans produced more total yardage but Las Vegas made better use of its opportunities late. Cousins finished with 248 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Bowers dominated in his return with 116 receiving yards and a touchdown. Washington also supplied a crucial 36-yard rushing score during the comeback.
Shough’s four touchdown passes and Olave’s 107 receiving yards highlighted a productive Saints offense, but four turnovers changed the final result. Las Vegas scored 19 unanswered points after falling behind 27–16 and completed the 35–27 victory. The Raiders moved to 3–0, while New Orleans dropped to 1–2 after its home opener.
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