Jun 3, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warms up during organized team activities at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
‘Very Impressed’ — Dan Orlovsky Claims Kirk Cousins’ Raiders To Be ‘Legit’ Playoff Team After Close Chiefs Loss in Week 4 1
The Las Vegas Raiders entered Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The organization lost the game, but the franchise gave the Chiefs tough competition.
Following the loss, Las Vegas dropped to 3-1 on the season. The performance from quarterback Kirk Cousins was a treat to watch, and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky expressed his admiration for the quarterback as well as the organization.
Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Brytus-Imagn Images
In a recent episode of “First Take”, Orlovsky shared his point of view on the organization, as he believes that the Raiders are a legitimate playoff team. He said:
“Oh, the Raiders. I know the Chiefs are a great team. And hand up, just in regards to the Chiefs, I did not expect them to be this good this year. So they’ve proved me wrong in that regard.”
“But the Raiders, number one, much better at the line of scrimmage from a football team perspective, both sides of the football. Last year, they were minus 27 in sacks. This year, they’re plus seven. Two, they got a quarterback that unquestionably has been one of the top six or eight quarterbacks through the first month of the NFL. And that did not change yesterday. Kirk Cousins playing outstanding.”
“I love their tight ends. Brock Bowers is one of the best, if not the biggest, mismatches in all of football. Klint Kubiak, outstanding as a head coach and play caller. They pushed Kansas City to the brink here. Kansas City made some big plays.
I think the second thing is how impressed I am with their defense. This is not a fluky defense. This defense is well coached. They play with good leverage. They’re really good at chasing to the football.”
Very impressed with @Raiders https://t.co/BZbaKOodku
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) October 5, 2026
The veteran quarterback gave his all against one of the AFC’s most experienced teams. He completed 31 of 52 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns, helping the organization give the Chiefs a tough challenge.
Despite the disappointing result, the Raiders have plenty of reasons to remain confident moving forward. The close contest against Kansas City showed that Las Vegas is capable of competing with some of the strongest teams in the AFC. Cousins looked comfortable leading the offense and consistently found ways to move the football under pressure.
His experience could become an important advantage as the season progresses, especially in close games against playoff-caliber opponents.
Meanwhile, the Raiders’ defense continued to show discipline and physicality throughout the matchup. With Kubiak leading the team and several key players performing at a high level, Las Vegas has quickly emerged as one of the more interesting teams to watch this season.
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