Raiders grades: Offense overcomes ugly defensive day to end skid

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. —How the Las Vegas Raiders performed in a 38-33 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday:

Offense: A

It was another four-touchdown day for Kirk Cousins, who has become a fantasy football MVP this season.

But the Raiders earned this grade for far more than just an incredibly efficient and productive day in the passing game that included two receiving touchdowns for Brock Bowers and another for Jalen Nailor.

They finally found a running game.

Mike Washington Jr. took over for Ashton Jeanty as the primary back in running situations and was actually able to move the chains.

The numbers were far from spectacular. Washington had 25 carries for 83 yards and a long of 15.

But when the Raiders needed first downs at the end of the game and everyone in the stadium knew they were going to run the ball, they were able to do it.

That’s a huge development for this team.

Defense: D-

It was a truly abysmal performance for most of the day by the Raiders.

The only thing worse than their run defense was how many receivers were wide open and how much time Geno Smith had to find them.

There was certainly an “F” marked down in pencil. But the eraser came out and the defense bumped up their grade with consecutive three-and-outs in the second half that allowed the Raiders to surge in front.

Then they were able to put their heels in the ground and stop the Jets in the red zone with 4:35 remaining when they could have taken the lead with a touchdown.

Special teams: A

The Raiders did a lot of things right on special teams Sunday, particularly the incredible kickoff return touchdown by the league’s leading returner, Dylan Laube.

Ian Thomas and Cian Slone had nice blocks to help spring him down the left sideline and Laube did the rest, recording the first kickoff return touchdown for the Raiders since Jacoby Ford in 2011.

It was also the first of the season for anyone in the NFL. Laube reached a speed of nearly 21 mph on the play, according to NFL Next Gen stats.

Laube also had a solid tackle on a Jets return to pin the Jets inside their own 25.

The Raiders did, however, allow a 41-yard return at what could have been a key time in the game after scoring a touchdown to get within two points. That kept them from what was very nearly an “A+,” even when Matt Gay all but iced the game with a 53-yard field goal in the final minute.

Coaching: B

The Raiders didn’t handle their timeouts incredibly well at the end of the first half, and the defensive game plan can certainly be called into question.

Klint Kubiak showed an extreme level of confidence in Gay to kick late in the game instead of pooch-punting when the Jets had no timeouts. It’s a decision that certainly would have been second-guessed had he missed.

But the Raiders also snapped a 12-game losing streak in games in which they trailed at halftime. Kubiak’s team also showed resilience in going on the road and put an end to a four-game skid overall.

Contact Adam Hill at [email protected]. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X