Kirk Cousins passes for 3 TDs and the unbeaten Raiders come back to top the Saints 35-27

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — It took the Las Vegas Raiders an entire season to accumulate three victories in 2025.

Rookie coach Klint Kubiak and new quarterback Kirk Cousins have helped the Silver and Black match that total by Week 3 of 2026.

Cousins passed for 248 yards and three touchdowns, and the Raiders overcame an 11-point second-half deficit to beat the New Orleans Saints 35-27 on Sunday and remain unbeaten.

The 38-year-old Cousins “has the experience, he has the maturity and he’s making plays,” said the 39-year-old Kubiak, who parlayed his one-year stint as offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks into his first head coaching job.

The game shifted on a play that will be seen as controversial and unjust by some — and certainly by Saints fans.

The series that led to the Raiders' go-ahead score began when Las Vegas defensive end Malcolm Koonce sacked Tyler Shough as the Saints QB started his throwing motion.

The ball went backward and was ruled a fumble that was recovered by the Raiders (3-0) — a different ruling than was made after a similar play involving the Saints (1-2) in Week 1 at Detroit. On that play, an apparent New Orleans strip-sack of the Lions' Jared Goff was ruled incomplete on video review after the Saints thought they had recovered a fumble for a touchdown.

Likewise, Shough said, “I thought my arm was going forward.”

“I’m not exactly sure on the rule,” he added. “It doesn’t really matter. I’ve got to get it out sooner, regardless.”

Boos rained down from Superdome stands, and Saints coach Kellen Moore gestured incredulously with his arms out to his side and palms up when officials, following a video review, upheld the call of a fumble.

“I just assumed it was a strip-sack,” Koonce said. “We just got a little bit of momentum and started balling.”

Six plays later, Cousins connected with Cody White for a 4-yard touchdown to make it 28-27.

“Momentum swung against us early in the third quarter, but the defense just kept showing up for us, creating turnovers and giving us short fields,” Cousins said. “We were able to capitalize on them.”

Cousins gave Las Vegas an eight-point lead with a 4-yard TD pass to Brock Bowers. The Saints got the ball twice more with a chance to tie it, but one drive stalled on Shough's fourth-down fumble and another on Juwan Johnson's fumble with 1:02 left.

“Turnovers in the fourth quarter got us and we weren’t able to overcome those. Those guys finished better than us,” Moore said. “We had our opportunities and we didn’t get it done.”

Shough passed for 255 yards and a career-high four touchdowns — including two to Johnson. Shough's other scoring passes went to Noah Fant from short range. But the second-year QB also turned the ball over three times, twice on fumbles and on an interception by cornerback Hezekiah Masses that set up the Raiders' final scoring drive.

Mike Washington ignited the Raiders’ comeback with a tackle-breaking 36-yard scoring run that cut New Orleans’ lead to 27-22 in the third quarter. Matt Gay kicked three field goals for Las Vegas, which also failed on a pair of 2-point conversions in the second half.

New Orleans’ Chris Olave caught nine passes for 107 yards, his second 100-yard game this season.

Bowers, making his season debut after coming back from a knee injury during training camp, caught 10 passes for 116 yards and his short TD.

“To come off an injury and play the way he did was very impressive,” Kubiak said. “We needed it. We’re not surprised.”

Raiders: WR Jack Bech left the game with a fractured forearm. Guard Jackson Powers-Johnson left with a groin injury.

Saints: LB Pete Werner left in the first half with a neck and shoulder stinger. RB Travis Etienne left with an apparent hamstring pull. Edge rusher Anfernee Jennings left with a knee injury.

Raiders: Host Kansas City next Sunday.

Saints: Host Atlanta on Monday, Oct. 5.

__

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore talks to an official after a penalty was issued to his team during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) throws a pass under pressure from Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) and defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) celebrates the team's win in an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers catches a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws a pass under pressure from New Orleans Saints safety Jonas Sanker (7) during the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

SEATTLE (AP) — Dan Wilson will not return as the Seattle Mariners' manager next season, he and the team said Sunday.

Wilson made the announcement shortly after the Mariners finished off a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels, the ending to a disappointing 76-86 season that began with World Series aspirations after Seattle reached Game 7 of the American League Championship Series last year.

“Collectively we failed to meet our own expectations this season,” Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. “Dan and I both care deeply about this organization, these players, and the future of the Mariners. After much discussion it was concluded that a new direction is best for 2027 and beyond.

“I want to thank Dan for his efforts over the past two years and specifically recognize his role in our club advancing to Game 7 of the ALCS in 2025.”

Wilson, a Mariners Hall of Famer who played catcher for the team from 1994-2005, took over the job after Seattle fired Scott Servais on Aug. 22, 2024. Things started off well, as Wilson led the club to a 21-13 finish after it squandered a 10-game lead in the AL West earlier in the season.

The Mariners won the AL West in 2025, their first division title in 24 years, and came within one victory of the franchise's first World Series appearance. But a combination of injuries and regression by the bullpen and several of the team's top offensive stars led to a 2026 season filled with disappointment.

After hitting .247 with 60 homers and 125 RBIs and finishing second in the AL MVP race to Aaron Judge last year, Cal Raleigh batted .182 with 23 homers and 69 RBIs. Center fielder Julio Rodríguez and first baseman Josh Naylor also had career-worst seasons as the Mariners scored just 664 runs — third-fewest in the majors.

The defense ranked last in MLB with -58 outs above average, and All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz blew 10 saves.

Wilson went 187-171 in two-plus seasons as Mariners manager, at .522 the second-best winning percentage in club history behind Lou Piniella (.542).

“I'm still processing this with my family, and it's a very difficult day," Wilson said at a postgame news conference, reading from a prepared statement. “We love this city, we love this community and we appreciate the organization for what it has meant to the family since coming here as a player in '94.”

His tenure as manager ends with the Mariners still the only major league team that's never reached the World Series.

“I’ve appreciated the opportunity to lead this team the past two years,” Wilson said. “While this season has not gone the way any of us expected, I’m proud that the players in the clubhouse showed up each day to try and compete and battle in each game they played. I’m confident that the 2026 season doesn’t accurately reflect the talent, passion and desire of our players and know that bright things are ahead for this group.”

Prior to Sunday’s game, Wilson told the team he would not be back in 2027.

“He just made it clear that he really cares about this team and this organization as a whole,” Rodríguez said. “Even though he’s not going to be around us, he’s going to always be there for us in many different ways and that he believes in this group going forward."

Mariners Chairman and CEO John Stanton thanked Wilson and said he could still remain in the organization.

"I want to add my thanks to Dan for the work he’s done as manager,” Stanton said in the team's statement. “I have also spoken with Dan and made it clear that we would like to keep him in our organization. I look forward to continued conversations as we work to identify a role in which we can continue to benefit from his experience and commitment to the Mariners and our community.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson looks on during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson, left, greets shortstop J.P. Crawford, right, after a win over the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson, facing, greets bullpen catcher Fleming Báez (66) after a win over the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Kade Anderson, right, leaves the game with manager Dan Wilson, left, after being hit by a line drive single by Los Angeles Angels' Christian Moore during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson looks on during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)