SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Christian McCaffrey put himself in some elite company with two short touchdown runs.
McCaffrey's two 1-yard TDs in a 35-13 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday made him the fourth-fastest player in the Super Bowl era to reach 100 career touchdowns and the third player ever with at least 50 TDs with two franchises.
Click to Gallery
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, top left, is congratulated by tight end George Kittle (85) and running back Christian McCaffrey after scoring against the Miami Dolphins during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey celebrates after scoring against the Miami Dolphins during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) jumps over Miami Dolphins linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) to score during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
“It means a lot,” McCaffrey said. “It's a blessing to be able to play this game and stuff like that is always cool. But it's always about the team and showing up and doing your job.”
McCaffrey didn't have to do a lot on Sunday on a day when Brock Purdy and the rest of the offense was clicking at suck a high level that the Niners scored touchdowns on their first five drives,
McCaffrey started it with a 1-yard run in the first quarter and capped the scoring for San Francisco late in the third when he scored again from 1-yard out. He finished with 23 yards on 10 carries and four catches for 43 yards.
“CMC, he’s just the GOAT,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “GOATs do things like that. It’s just another day at the office for old Christian. But nobody works harder on their craft and is as dedicated to the game as Christian. Everything that he does, he’s earned it and he’s only going to continue to keep getting better.”
But the scores gave him 64 rushing touchdowns and 36 receiving in 114 regular season games for Carolina and San Francisco. Only LaDainian Tomlinson (89 games), Emmitt Smith (93) and Shaun Alexander (96) got to 100 TDs faster in the Super Bowl era.
McCaffrey, who has 50 touchdowns with both Carolina and San Francisco, joined Marshall Faulk and Randy Moss as the only players to score at least 50 TDs with two franchises.
“It’s kind of crazy to hear that,” McCaffrey said. “I watched all those guys growing up. Marshall Faulk was somebody that I’ve probably seen every single snap he’s played. I don’t take it for granted. Randy Moss I played with a ton of time with Madden growing up. Those are huge, huge honors.”
McCaffrey's career is fill of noteworthy accomplishments already. He became the third player ever with at least 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season in 2019 with Carolina, has earned first-team All-Pro honors in three seasons, and won the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 and Comeback Player of the Year in 2025.
“It’s crazy. I grew up watching him in high school and stuff when he was at Stanford and then the Panthers and then to be a teammate with him and be there when he scored his 100th touchdown was insane,” Purdy said. "It’s really cool to think about that. To be on his team and be a teammate with him and go and help him do what he wants to do with his career and just be there and feed him the ball and stuff, it’s an honor for me."
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, top left, is congratulated by tight end George Kittle (85) and running back Christian McCaffrey after scoring against the Miami Dolphins during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey celebrates after scoring against the Miami Dolphins during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) jumps over Miami Dolphins linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) to score during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
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)
