Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-08 · by Mark Anderson The Associated Press
The Las Vegas Raiders suffered their first loss of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs with a score of 30-27. At 3-1, they face another tough opponent, the undefeated New England Patriots, in just five days. Quarterback Kirk Cousins emphasized the need for the team to stay focused and mature as they prepare for this challenging game, which comes on the heels of their close but unsuccessful attempt at remaining unbeaten.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Las Vegas Raiders suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday, falling 30-27 to the Kansas City Chiefs, who remain unbeaten at 4-0. The Raiders, under new coach Klint Kubiak, were initially seen as a rebuilding team but had started the season strong with three wins. Now, they must quickly shift focus to their upcoming game against the New England Patriots on Sunday. Quarterback Kirk Cousins emphasized the need for the team to move forward and stay focused, highlighting the maturity required to handle such losses. Despite the setback, the Raiders' record of 3-1 still positions them well for a potential playoff run if they can maintain their momentum against tough competition like the Patriots.
Written for “Raiders Lose First Game” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Previous Raiders teams were more than accustomed to the feeling of coming off a loss, but this year’s team is surprisingly experiencing it for the first time about a month into the season.
asserted
team → come → season
Las Vegas had every chance to remain unbeaten this past Sunday before losing 30-27 to Kansas City, which until last season had won nine consecutive AFC West titles.
asserted
which → have → titles
The Chiefs (4-0) now look as if they could be ready to begin another streak.
uncertain
they → look → streak
Now the Raiders must turn their attention to Sunday’s game at New England and forget how close they came to beating the Chiefs.
“I think we just have so much to be focused on now moving forward that keeps our attention on today, really,” quarterback Kirk Cousins said Wednesday.
asserted
Cousins → turn → today
“That’s what mature teams got to do is be able to respond and look ahead and keep pushing no matter what happens.”
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what → ’ → what
This was expected to be a rebuilding season for the Raiders under first-year coach Klint Kubiak, but after winning their first three games, they appeared to be ahead of schedule.
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they → expect → schedule
Las Vegas (3-1) remains in position to make an unexpected playoff run.
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Vegas → remain → run
Of the 49 teams to open a season 3-1 since the playoffs expanded in 2020, 38 qualified for the postseason.
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38 → open → postseason
But this also is a challenging part of their schedule.
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this → challenge → schedule
After this weekend, the Raiders host Buffalo and the Los Angeles Rams — the two consensus betting favorites to win the Super Bowl.
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Raiders → host → Bowl
Simply facing the Patriots alone should be enough to get the Raiders’ full attention.
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facing → face → attention
“It’s not about who exactly we’re playing,” defensive end Maxx Crosby said.
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Crosby → ’ → who
“No matter what, we want to be the best version of ourselves.
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we → want → ourselves
We know New England’s a great team and we’re going on the road again, so we got a lot of work to do until we get to Sunday.
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we → know → Sunday
“They got a team coming off the appearance in the Super Bowl, so we know we got to be at our absolute best.”
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we → get → best
He was perhaps the best player on the teams that over the previous two seasons combined to win seven games.
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that → combine → games
Las Vegas already has as many wins as last year’s team, which went 3-14.
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which → have → team
“You just got to be present,” Crosby said.
asserted
Crosby → got → ?
“You got to be focused on right now, and that’s all you can keep your mind at.
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you → got → mind
Because if you’re thinking too far ahead, too far behind, worry about the loss the week before or the win the week before, it’s all an illusion.”
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it → think → loss
Kubiak said he wasn’t concerned about the team having the proper focus.
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team → say → focus
“A very mature group,” Kubiak said.
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Kubiak → say → ?
Injury update
Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr., who has been out all season with a hamstring injury, practiced in full Wednesday to open his 21-day window.
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who → practice → window
During that span, the Raiders can activate Thornton and add him to the 53-man roster, place him on season-ending IR or release or trade him.
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Raiders → activate → him
“It would be good to get him back out there and get him playing and reacclimating,” Kubiak said.
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Kubiak → get → him
“He’s a great teammate.
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He → ’ → ?
He’s a great person.
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He → ’ → ?
He’s worked really hard.
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He → work → ?
He stayed patient, had a great attitude, and was the kind of guy you really pull for.”
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you → stay → guy
Right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (groin) went through a limited practice.
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Johnson → go → practice
He did not play against the Chiefs.
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He → play → Chiefs
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor (concussion) did not practice.
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Nailor → practice → ?
He was hurt against Kansas City.
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He → hurt → City
Kubiak was Seattle’s offensive coordinator when the Seahawks beat the Patriots in last season’s Super Bowl.
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Seahawks → beat → Bowl
“They were a great defense last season,” Kubiak said.
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Kubiak → say → ?
“They’re a great defense this season with a lot of talented players, really talented coaching staff.
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They → ’re → players
They play hard, and this is a defense that we have a ton of respect for.”
asserted
we → play → respect
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