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Game Recap: Las Vegas Raiders 35, New Orleans Saints 27 | 2026 NFL Week 3

Four late turnovers lead to close loss in home opener

Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Las Vegas Raiders for Week 3 of the 2026 NFL Season on Sept. 27, 2026 at Caesars Superdome.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Las Vegas Raiders for Week 3 of the 2026 NFL Season on Sept. 27, 2026 at Caesars Superdome.

Four turnovers by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth quarter allowed the Las Vegas Raiders to escape with a 35-27 victory Sunday, ruining the Saints' home opener at the Caesars Superdome.

On the eve of his 27th birthday, Saints quarterback Tyler Shough was playing perhaps the finest game of his young NFL career. The second-year pro had his first four touchdown passing game (all four to tight ends) but then lost a fumble on a hard hit and threw an interception on the next possession. Las Vegas scored on both possessions, taking control of the game in the fourth quarter. The Saints had one last chance but tight end Juwan Johnson lost a fumble with 53 seconds to play. The Saints' final five drives of the game were a punt, fumble, interception, fumble, fumble.

Las Vegas improved to 3-0 while the Saints dropped to 1-2.

After trailing 16-13 at halftime, the Saints scored 14 consecutive points thanks to fumble recovery on a Raiders kickoff return by safety Jordan Howden.

The Raiders fought back to re-take the lead after they recovered a Shough fumble that looked very similar to a play that was ruled an incomplete pass in the Saints' Week 1 loss to Detroit. Las Vegas scored on a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins to take a 28-27 lead after a 2-point attempt failed. The Raiders added to their lead after Shough was intercepted and the Raiders returned it to the 4-yard line. Las Vegas scored on a Cousins touchdown pass to tight end Brock Bowers for a 35-27 lead. Bowers, playing in his first game of the 2026 season, had 10 catches for 116 yards.

Johnson had eight receptions for 48 yards and two touchdowns (two and one yards) while tight end Noah Fant had four catches for 33 yards and two touchdowns (three and 16 yards). Receiver Chris Olave added nine catches for 107 yards. Shough finished 29 of 42 for 250 yards with four touchdowns, an interception and a lost fumble. Running back Alvin Kamara had nine carries for 36 yards.

Defensive end Chase Young had two sacks and defensive tackle Khristian Boyd added another.

On the injury front, the Saints lost linebacker Pete Werner to a stinger in the first, defensive end Carl Granderson left with an ankle in the third quarter (but later returned), edge Anfernee Jennings left in the fourth quarter with a knee injury, and running back Travis Etienne Jr. left in the third quarter with a hamstring. He had run 13 times for 57 yards.

The Saints will play host to the Atlanta Falcons (1-2) on Monday, Oct. 5

Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Las Vegas Raiders for Week 3 of the 2026 NFL Season on Sept. 27, 2026 at Caesars Superdome.

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