Raiders Rally Past Jets, Cousins Throws Three TDs
Las Vegas erased a nine-point halftime deficit to win in Week 8 at MetLife Stadium and improve to 4-4.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Football
The Las Vegas Raiders defeated the New York Jets in Week 8 of the 2026 season, snapping a four-game losing streak. Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes and also scored a rushing touchdown after Las Vegas trailed by nine points at halftime.
Why it matters
The win lifts the Raiders to a 4-4 record and ends a four-game skid, keeping their playoff hopes alive as the season reaches its midpoint. It also reinforces Cousins's standing as one of the league's top passers in 2026.
Cousins has 19 touchdown passes and 2,124 passing yards, third in the NFL, trailing only Joe Burrow's 20 touchdown passes after Week 8. The Raiders now sit at 4-4, and the extraction does not address their standing relative to other AFC playoff contenders.
The players
Kirk Cousins
Veteran quarterback who led the Raiders' comeback with three touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown in the Week 8 win over the Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders
NFL franchise based in Las Vegas that improved to 4-4 after rallying from a nine-point halftime deficit against the Jets.
New York Jets
NFL franchise based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, that lost to the Raiders at MetLife Stadium in Week 8.
The details
Las Vegas trailed by nine points at halftime before rallying at MetLife Stadium, with Cousins throwing three touchdown passes and adding a rushing score. The result ended a four-game losing streak for the Raiders.
Timeline
Week 8, 2026 season: Raiders defeat Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Week 9, 2026 season: Raiders play San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium.
Week 10, 2026 season: Raiders face Seattle Seahawks.
Week 11, 2026 season: Raiders face Denver Broncos.
Week 12, 2026 season: Raiders face Cleveland Browns before bye week.
Season Trajectory
Cousins's 19 touchdown passes and 2,124 yards place him third in the NFL in passing yards after Week 8, behind Joe Burrow's 20 touchdown passes. The Raiders' 4-4 record leaves them in the middle of a crowded AFC race, with their next three games against the Seahawks, Broncos and Browns shaping the second half of the season.
Fantasy managers who rostered Cousins now have a clearer read on his volume, with 19 touchdown passes already on the season. The Raiders' upcoming schedule runs through Week 12 before their bye, which affects how the team's offense can be projected in the coming weeks.
The takeaway
The Raiders' rally shows how a team can recover from a halftime deficit and a losing streak in the same week, and Cousins's production makes him a key figure to watch as the season moves into its second half.
What happens next
The Raiders play at the San Francisco 49ers in Week 9 at Levi's Stadium, followed by home-and-away matchups against the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns in Weeks 10 through 12.
Further reading
Follow the team's season in our Football coverage for the latest Raiders updates.
