LAS VEGAS — Kirk Cousins has spent almost his entire NFL career carrying a label. First, he was the insurance policy. Then, he became the unexpected starter. Later came the criticism that he couldn’t win the biggest games.
Now, at 38 years old and in the twilight of his career, Cousins has another label attached to him: bridge quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders until Fernando Mendoza is ready to take over.
There is some truth behind each description. But after what Cousins accomplished in the Raiders’ 27-13 season-opening victory over the Miami Dolphins, there is another description that deserves attention. One of the most productive passing quarterbacks in NFL history.
Cousins Passes John Elway
Cousins entered Sunday’s game on the doorstep of a significant career milestone and left it having surpassed 300 career touchdown passes while moving past Denver Broncos legend John Elway on the NFL’s all-time passing touchdown list.
His reaction was vintage Cousins. “Just passed John Elway, I think,” Cousins told Raiders director of communications and public relations Will Kiss during a moment captured by “Inside the NFL.” “It’s a decent name. He had a decent career.”
Understatement aside, passing Elway in any major career passing category is significant. Cousins’ journey makes the accomplishment even more remarkable. Washington selected Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and then surprisingly used another selection on Cousins in the fourth round.
Cousins wasn’t supposed to become the face of the franchise. He eventually did. He wasn’t necessarily expected to become one of the NFL’s most productive quarterbacks of his generation. He did that, too. Now the four-time Pro Bowl selection has surpassed 300 touchdown passes and moved into the upper tier of the league’s historical passing charts.
Cousins Delivers in Raiders Debut
Cousins didn’t need to produce gaudy yardage numbers against Miami to make an impact. He completed 21 of 30 passes for 160 yards, throwing three touchdowns and two interceptions as Las Vegas opened the Klint Kubiak era with a 27-13 victory.
It wasn’t a flawless performance. The two interceptions will undoubtedly be among the areas Kubiak and the Raiders want cleaned up before Sunday’s AFC West matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
But Cousins did what Las Vegas brought him in to do. He managed the offense, delivered touchdown passes when opportunities presented themselves and helped the Raiders start the season 1-0.
At this stage of his career, that’s more important than chasing 300-yard passing performances. The Raiders don’t need Cousins to be the quarterback he was at his peak in Minnesota.
They need him to be dependable. They need him to understand Kubiak’s offense, distribute the football to Las Vegas’ playmakers and provide stability while Mendoza continues developing. Perhaps most importantly, they need Cousins to win football games. He did that in Week 1.
Klint Kubiak Keeps Raiders Focused on the Process Ahead of AFC West Clash With Chargers
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
