As the NFL season charges into late September, the Las Vegas Raiders have flipped the script on 2026. At 2-0, they’re one of the league’s early surprises, and the architect of their improbable start is none other than 38-year-old quarterback Kirk Cousins. According to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, Cousins has diced defenses for 413 total yards, six touchdowns, and a 67.8 completion percentage through two games—numbers that have silenced the doubters who wrote him off after a rocky exit from Atlanta.
A Historic Start for the Ages
Cousins isn’t just playing well; he’s etching his name alongside legends. He joins Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks aged 38 or older to open a season with three passing touchdowns in each of the team’s first two games. That’s rarified air, and it’s precisely why Russell Wilson, appearing on CBS’s Set, Hut!, didn’t mince words: “I think Kirk Cousins wins Comeback Player of the Year.” Wilson praised Cousins for blocking out the noise: “He never gave up on the moment. The system matters and who you’re with. To me, Kirk has responded well.”
Why the Raiders Are Riding the Hot Hand
Las Vegas has been adamant that No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza will sit as long as possible. With Cousins dealing, there’s no reason to rush the rookie. The veteran’s command of the offense has given the Raiders a chance to compete now while developing their future. As highlighted on Vulius, Cousins’s ability to manage the game and avoid turnovers—zero interceptions so far—has been the catalyst for an offense that ranks among the league’s most efficient.
“I think Kirk Cousins has done a great job of managing all the noise around him saying that he’s done. Listen, the system matters and who you’re with. I think Kirk Cousins wins Comeback Player of the Year.” — Russell Wilson on CBS
The Comeback Player of the Year Frontrunner
If Cousins keeps this pace, the award is his to lose. He’s already surpassed expectations in his inaugural season with the Raiders, and his leadership has galvanized a locker room that many pegged for a rebuild. The road ahead features tough divisional matchups, but Cousins’s poise and pinpoint accuracy have Vegas dreaming of January football. For a quarterback who was once labeled a bridge option, he’s now the engine of a potential playoff run.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on Cousins to see if he can sustain this historic start. For now, Raider Nation is enjoying the ride—and Kirk Cousins is loving every minute of it, from the pocket to his beloved In-N-Out burgers. Stay tuned to Vulius for continued coverage of this remarkable comeback story.
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