Kirk Cousins connects with Cody White for 2 TDs and Raiders beat Chargers 26-14

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kirk Cousins used to watch Cody White attacking the football at Michigan State. The veteran quarterback figured the same thing would work for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Cousins connected with White for a go-ahead, 13-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and an 11-yard score during the fourth, leading the Raiders to a 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the teams' AFC West opener on Sunday.

It was White's first career game with multiple TD receptions.

“Cody showed me a lot today,” Cousins said. “I guess those were my bank reps, just watching him play for Michigan State and then when he arrived try to translate that to here and now.”

Las Vegas (2-0) beat the Chargers (0-2) on the road for the first time since 2020, a game that was played without fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Raiders, who maintain a strong Southern California fan base, had lost four straight to the Chargers by double digits.

With No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza watching from the sideline, Cousins was 19 of 29 for 253 yards with three TDs and an interception. He got sacked twice.

Cousins joined Ken Stabler in 1976 as only the Raiders quarterbacks to throw three or more TD passes in each of their first two games.

“He’s been phenomenal,” said Raiders coach Klint Kubiak, who enjoyed a successful run with Cousins when they were both with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Chargers took their first lead, 14-10, on Justin Herbert’s 10-yard TD pass to Oronde Gadsden. Herbert fumbled and teammate Keaton Mitchell recovered at the Las Vegas 10-yard line. On the next play, Herbert spun out of a potential sack with Raiders star Maxx Crosby looming to connect with Gadsden.

The Raiders answered right back with the TD catch by White, who was elevated from the practice squad a day earlier. He also played in Las Vegas’ 27-13 win over Miami in Week 1 but did not have a catch.

“It just meant the world,” said White, whose family was on hand. “Just being able to go out there and make the plays when Kirk was able to give me some opportunities. It just felt amazing to go out there and get a win.”

Leading 17-14, the Raiders’ Jeremy Chinn recovered a fumble and returned it 43 yards with 3:52 remaining in the game. Omarion Hampton had a costly fumble for the second straight week and Chinn recovered, returning it to the Chargers 16-yard line.

Cousins then directed a three-play, 43-second drive that ended with White’s second TD catch and a 24-14 lead in front of a raucous, predominantly Raiders-supporting crowd at SoFi Stadium.

“It’s still really early, but certainly the goal is to build something that way outlasts me,” the 38-year-old Cousins said.

The Raiders led 7-0 on Tre Tucker’s 40-yard touchdown catch on the Chargers’ busted coverage in the second quarter. Rookie Genesis Smith, replacing injured Elijah Molden, lost Tucker, leaving him wide open.

Matt Gay’s career-best 59-yard field goal extended the lead to 10-7 just before halftime.

In his 100th NFL game, Jim Harbaugh fell to 0-2 for the first time in his college or pro coaching career, with the heavily favored Chargers also losing to Arizona 26-14 last week.

The Chargers were done in by six fumbles, among other miscues.

“The fight was there,” Harbaugh said. “We’re losing in the margins. That’s what we have to get fixed.”

A visibly frustrated Herbert was 15 of 26 for 192 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He took three sacks.

“That’s not good enough and can’t expect to win games like that when we’re playing like that,” he said. “If we’re not playing up to our standard, that’s on us to fix it.”

The Chargers' Joe Alt, one of the league's top tackles, had three false-start penalties and an offensive holding call that led to a Raiders safety in the closing minutes.

“Thought I saw what I saw and didn't,” Alt said. “Got to be better.”

The Chargers' opening drive of the game ended with Cameron Dicker's 58-yard field-goal attempt hitting the crossbar. He'd previously made 59 of 63 field goals at home.

Raiders: S Treydan Stukes was hurt in the third quarter.

Chargers: S Derwin James Jr. (hand) got hurt late in the first quarter, but returned before halftime. ... TE David Njoku (knee) was taken off in a cart early in the second quarter and did not return. ... DL Dalvin Tomlinson was hurt in the fourth.

Raiders: Visit New Orleans next Sunday.

Chargers: Visit undefeated Buffalo next Sunday in their first road game of season.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Hezekiah Masses (35) intercepts a pass intended for Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku (83) during the first half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)

Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Hezekiah Masses (35) intercepts a pass intended for Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku during the first half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) fumbles as he is tackled by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) celebrates with teammates after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Cody White during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian drones struck the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday, a day after Kyiv’s forces fired more than 1,000 drones at Russia, officials said.

The relentless daily attacks underscore the lack of significant progress in diplomatic efforts to end the fighting more than four years after Russia invaded its neighbor.

There is no sign the war is abating as world leaders gather this week at the U.N. General Assembly. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expects to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the annual event in New York. Russian President Vladimir Putin is not due to attend.

Trump on Monday called the war “ridiculous” and said Moscow had “unfortunately lost control” of its diesel oil production as Ukraine targets Russian refineries with long-range drones.

“A large number of (Russian) diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission,” he said in a social media post.

Earlier this month, Trump urged Zelenskyy to halt the refinery strikes, saying the attacks are causing a global shortage and price spikes.

European leaders, fearing Moscow has malicious intentions on their continent, are keen to put further pressure on Putin to withdraw from Ukraine, but the Russian leader has given no indication he is ready to give up his goals.

The Russian bombardment of Zaporizhzhia late Sunday hit apartment blocks, a university and a shopping mall, among other sites, and wounded five people, Zelenskyy said on social media Monday.

Russia also struck nine other regions of Ukraine, he said.

A Russian drone struck a home in northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Monday, killing a 45-year-old woman and seriously injuring her 13-year-old son, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

“Russia is not backing down from its escalation and is sending many signals that it is ready to expand the war,” Zelenskyy said. “At the U.N. General Assembly, we will discuss how we can achieve peace through joint efforts.”

The Russian military overnight targeted Ukrainian logistics hubs, warehouses and ports, among other military-related sites, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday.

The attacks came after Ukraine launched a huge swarm of drones at Russia from Saturday to Sunday, including hundreds aimed at Moscow, as voters turned out for the third and last day of a carefully orchestrated parliamentary election.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Monday that its air defenses overnight downed 244 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and the waters of the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force said Monday it shot down or suppressed 148 Russian drones in an overnight attack.

During the aerial barrages, drones have repeatedly strayed into neighboring countries, unnerving leaders who are wary of Russia and fear being dragged into conflict.

Moldova’s Ministry of Defense said Monday that part of the country's airspace in the north was temporarily closed overnight after surveillance systems detected an “aerial object” entering its national airspace shortly after midnight.

In recent weeks, Moldova’s airspace has been violated multiple times, and drone debris has been found on its territory. With electronic jamming knocking drones off course, it was not clear whether the drones were Russian or Ukrainian, though officials have often singled out Moscow for blame.

Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu has repeatedly condemned Russia for its war on Ukraine, and earlier this month said Moscow’s “brutal war is reaching our border” following Russian strikes along Moldova’s frontier with Ukraine.

Drone incursions into Romania’s airspace have also increased significantly.

AP reporters Stephen McGrath in Leamington Spa, England and Seun Min Kim in Washington contributed to this story.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

A rescue worker puts out a fire at the Intrade trade center after a Russian drone strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko) Correction: Byline corrected to Kateryna Klochko, instead of Evgeniy Maloletka

Rescue workers put out a fire at the Intrade trade center after a Russian drone strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko) Correction: Byline corrected to Kateryna Klochko, instead of Evgeniy Maloletka

A rescue worker puts out a fire at the Intrade trade center after a Russian drone strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko) Correction: Byline corrected to Kateryna Klochko, instead of Evgeniy Maloletka