For the first time in 5 years the Raiders are 2-0 and the Saints are coming up next week. Doing this without Bowers has been a really nice surprise.

Are they actually good, though? Here's what I'm seeing from this team:

• Maxx is back as the hornet in the other team's outhouse. He made Joe Alt false start at least three times and then sealed the game by forcing a holding penalty in the endzone for a safety. Against Miami he dominated in the usual sacks, pressures, and TFL way, but what he did to Alt was next level stuff that won't show up on the stat sheet.
• Cousins is fine. The stats are better than the eye test. By the numbers, he's the first Raiders QB since The Snake to begin a season with two 3-TD games. What I'm seeing, especially against the Chargers, is competent QB play. I'm still itching for Mendoza to get in there, which might happen soon if Cousins keeps taking beatings like this past Sunday.
• We hit on our young DBs. Stukes and Masses, this year's 2nd and 5th rounders, have all three of the Raiders picks so far this season and they, along with Porter (second season), have generally been playing great. The one main area of improvement for them is to get in the weight room. They all seem to be willing to get physical, but NFL vets are able to push them around too easily.
• Jeanty is still lacking. He had a great game against the Dolphins, who suck, followed by a crap game against the Chargers, who also suck. He dropped three easy passes against the Chargers and really wasn't breaking many tackles or making guys miss. At this point, he looks like a fairly average NFL RB.
• AJ Cole is still the best punter in the league. It's a real luxury being able to force the other team to go 80+ yards on most of their drives, especially when the other team sucks.
• The O-Line is still a work in progress. This unit has not clicked (yet?). With Jeanty being mid and Cousins being totally immobile, they need to be really solid and they just aren't getting enough push or keeping the pocket clean (and that's against teams that suck).

I love watching the Raiders win, especially when coupled with humiliating the Chargers. This team is a bit of fools' gold though. We might be 3-0 after next week, but we'll most likely be 3-4 after the schedule gets tough.

Irregardless (yes, I know), GO RAIDERS!!!