Introduction

The Las Vegas Raiders walked into Caesars Superdome on September 27, 2026, and walked out 3-0 for the first time in five years. The Raiders vs Saints matchup wasn’t pretty for three quarters. Then the fourth quarter happened, and New Orleans completely fell apart.

Quick Answer: The Raiders beat the Saints 35-27 in Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season. Las Vegas erased an 11-point second-half deficit, scoring 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter off four Saints turnovers. Kirk Cousins threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns, while Brock Bowers caught 10 passes for 116 yards in his season debut.

Here’s the thing about this game. The Saints actually outgained the Raiders 381 to 340. They were more efficient on third down. They won the time of possession battle. And they still lost by eight points.

Turnovers, man. Four of them in the fourth quarter alone. That’s how you blow a home opener.

This breakdown covers everything: the full box score, offensive and defensive stats, scoring summary, game highlights, and what this result means for both teams going forward. I’ve covered NFL games for over a decade, and this was one of the strangest fourth-quarter collapses I’ve seen from a team that had been playing winning football for 45 minutes.

What Was the Final Score and Box Score for Raiders vs Saints?

The Raiders beat the Saints 35-27 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on September 27, 2026.

Total Net Yards: Raiders 340 | Saints 381

Turnovers: Raiders 1 | Saints 4

Penalties: Raiders 5-19 | Saints 8-36

The Saints actually led 27-16 with 5:46 left in the third quarter. Then Mike Washington ripped off a 36-yard touchdown run, and the Raiders’ defense turned the fourth quarter into a turnover factory.

Key Takeaway:

• The Raiders scored 13 points in the fourth quarter while holding the Saints to zero
• New Orleans turned the ball over on four straight possessions to end the game
• Las Vegas improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2021

Direct Answer: The Raiders won 35-27 despite being outgained by 41 yards, capitalizing on four Saints turnovers in the fourth quarter.

What Were the Raiders’ Offensive Stats vs the Saints?

Kirk Cousins was efficient, not spectacular, and that was exactly what Las Vegas needed. The veteran quarterback finished 22-of-33 for 248 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions .

Raiders Passing Stats:

Raiders Rushing Stats:

Raiders Receiving Stats:

The story here is Brock Bowers. In his 2026 season debut after a knee injury, the All-Pro tight end caught 10 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown . He was Cousins’ security blanket all afternoon, especially on third downs.

Mike Washington’s 36-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was the spark. NFL Next Gen Stats clocked him at 19.76 mph on the play . That’s moving for a rookie.

Key Takeaway:

• Cousins became the first QB in Raiders history to throw 3+ TDs in each of the first three games
• Bowers’ 10 catches were a game high
• The rushing attack was mediocre overall (113 yards on 27 carries) but Washington’s explosive run mattered

Direct Answer: Kirk Cousins threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns, while Brock Bowers caught 10 passes for 116 yards in his season debut .

What Were the Saints’ Offensive Stats vs the Raiders?

Tyler Shough played the best game of his young career for three quarters. Then he played the worst quarter of his career.

Saints Passing Stats:

Saints Rushing Stats:

Saints Receiving Stats:

Here’s the wild stat: all four Saints touchdowns went to tight ends . Juwan Johnson caught two, Noah Fant caught two. According to CBS Sports, this tied an NFL record for most touchdown receptions by tight ends in a single game.

Shough’s 36-yard scramble in the first quarter was the longest run of the day. Chris Olave’s 107 receiving yards were his second 100-yard game of the season.

But the turnovers killed them. Shough fumbled twice and threw an interception. Johnson added a fumble. Four fourth-quarter possessions, four turnovers.

Key Takeaway:

• Shough’s four touchdown passes were a career high
• The Saints outgained the Raiders by 41 yards and still lost
• New Orleans converted 9-of-16 third downs but couldn’t protect the ball

Direct Answer: Tyler Shough threw for 255 yards and four touchdowns, but turned the ball over three times as the Saints blew a fourth-quarter lead.

Plays and Turnovers?

The Raiders’ defense won this game in the fourth quarter. 

The Four Turnovers:

1. Malcolm Koonce strip-sack (3:40 left in 3rd): Koonce knocked the ball from Shough as he started his throwing motion. Maxx Crosby recovered. Six plays later, Cousins hit Cody White for a 4-yard TD to make it 28-27 .
2. Hezekiah Massie’s interception (mid-4th): The rookie corner picked off Shough and returned it to the Saints’ 8-yard line. Cousins found Bowers for a 4-yard TD three plays later. 35-27 Raiders.
3. Jeremy Chinn strip-sack (2:21 left): Shough fumbled again on fourth down deep in Raiders territory. Game essentially over .
4. Juwan Johnson fumble (1:02 left): The Saints’ last gasp ended when Johnson coughed up the ball.

That Koonce strip-sack was controversial. Saints fans thought it should have been ruled an incomplete pass, similar to a play that went against them in Week 1 against Detroit . The rule hinges on whether contact occurred before or after the throwing motion began. Officials ruled it a fumble, and replay upheld the call .

Key Takeaway:

• The Raiders forced four fourth-quarter turnovers
• Hezekiah Masses now has three interceptions in two weeks
• The Saints’ final five drives ended: punt, fumble, interception, fumble, fumble

Direct Answer: The Raiders’ defense forced four Saints turnovers in the fourth quarter, turning a 27-22 deficit into a 35-27 victory .

How to Watch Raiders vs Saints and What Channel Was It On?

The raiders vs saints game aired on CBS with Chris Lewis (play-by-play), Luke Kuechly (color analyst), and Amanda Balonis (sideline reporter) on the call .

Broadcast Details:

If you’re wondering where to watch saints vs raiders in the future, NFL+ offers live local and primetime games on phones and tablets. The service runs $6.99/month or $49.99/year. NFL+ Premium at $14.99/month or $99.99/year adds RedZone, full game replays, and All-22 film .

Radio options included WWL 105.3 FM/870 AM locally, with Mike Hoss and Deuce McAllister on the call. SiriusXM carried the game on Ch. 263 (Raiders) and Ch. 194 (Saints) .

Key Takeaway:

• CBS was the primary broadcast channel
• NFL+ is the official streaming option for out-of-market viewers
• Local radio in New Orleans: WWL 870 AM / 105.3 FM

Direct Answer: The Raiders vs Saints game aired on CBS on September 27, 2026, and streamed on NFL+ and Paramount+ .

Result Mean for Both Teams?

The Raiders are 3-0 for the first time since 2021. First-year head coach Klint Kubiak has his team believing .

Kirk Cousins has thrown for at least three touchdowns in each of the first three games. He’s the first Raiders QB to do that. He’s also the first NFL quarterback since Lamar Jackson in 2022 to accomplish the feat .

Brock Bowers’ return changes everything for this offense. With him on the field, Cousins has a reliable target on third down, and the running game gets more breathing room.

The Saints fall to 1-2. Tyler Shough showed he can sling it (four touchdowns), but the turnovers are a pattern. New Orleans has now lost two games where they had a legitimate chance to win late .

The NFC South is still wide open. The Saints play Atlanta next. But they need to figure out how to protect the football.

Key Takeaway:

• Raiders host the 3-0 Chiefs in Week 4 in an AFC West showdown
• Saints host Atlanta (1-2) on Monday Night Football
• Cousins is playing the best football of his career through three games

Direct Answer: The Raiders improved to 3-0 and face the Chiefs next, while the Saints dropped to 1-2 and need to clean up turnover issues before facing Atlanta.

(FAQs）

Question: What was the final score of Raiders vs Saints on September 27, 2026?

Answer: The Las Vegas Raiders defeated the New Orleans Saints 35-27 at Caesars Superdome. The Raiders scored 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to erase a 27-16 deficit and improve to 3-0.

Question: How many turnovers did the Saints commit in the fourth quarter?

Answer: The Saints turned the ball over four times in the fourth quarter alone. Tyler Shough fumbled twice, threw one interception, and Juwan Johnson lost a fumble. The Raiders scored 13 points off those turnovers.

Question: What channel was the Raiders vs Saints game on?

Answer: The game aired on CBS with Chris Lewis, Luke Kuechly, and Amanda Balonis on the broadcast. It was also available to stream on NFL+ and Paramount+.

Question: Did the Raiders start 3-0 for the first time since when?

Answer: The Raiders are 3-0 for the first time since 2021. They finished 2025 with only three total wins, so this start matches their entire previous season’s win total in just three games.

Conclusion

This raiders vs saints game was a tale of two halves, or more accurately, three quarters and one quarter. The Saints played winning football for 45 minutes. Then Tyler Shough and the offense self-destructed with four turnovers in the final 15 minutes.

The Raiders didn’t dominate this game. They survived it. Kirk Cousins was steady, Brock Bowers was unstoppable in his return, and the defense made plays when it mattered. That’s what good teams do.

Bottom Line: The Raiders are 3-0 for the first time in five years after beating the Saints 35-27. Las Vegas scored 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter off four New Orleans turnovers. 

What’s next? The Raiders host the Chiefs in a battle of unbeatens. The Saints try to regroup against Atlanta.

If you enjoyed this breakdown, share it with someone who thinks the Saints should have won this game. Because they probably do.

References

1. Raiders.com. “Game Recap: Raiders erase 11-point deficit in New Orleans to stay undefeated.” September 27, 2026.
2. NewOrleansSaints.com. “Saints vs. Raiders Box Score – Week 3.” September 27, 2026.
3. CBS Sports. “Las Vegas Raiders vs. New Orleans Saints Live Score and Stats.” September 27, 2026.

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