---
title: "Las Vegas Raiders Struggle with Scoring in Third Quarter"
url: https://newscentral.site/las-vegas-raiders-struggle-with-scoring-in-third-quarter/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Politics"
published: 2026-10-20T05:29:43.000Z
updated: 2026-10-20T08:47:53.009Z
id: fc42132a-89e8-4c1a-ba1f-5722f91071ac
source: "ABC News Politics https://abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory/raiders-focus-3rd-quarter-scoring-woes-after-losses-137400471"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/las-vegas-raiders-struggle-with-scoring-in-third-quarter/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Las Vegas Raiders Struggle with Scoring in Third Quarter

The Las Vegas Raiders have struggled to score in the third quarter of recent games, being outscored 24-3 over three weeks against tough opponents.

The Las Vegas Raiders' recent losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have exposed a critical area of concern for the team: their scoring woes in the third quarter.

Over the past three weeks, the Raiders have faced some of the toughest opponents in the league, including Super Bowl contenders, yet they have been unable to capitalize on early leads. Despite going into halftime with a slight advantage against both the Chiefs and Bills, the team's offense has stalled in the third quarter, resulting in shutouts in each game.

The statistics are stark: in all three games, the Raiders were outscored 24-3 in the third quarter, with a minus-26 point differential. This is the worst performance in this area for any NFL team so far this season, highlighting the need for improvement from the coaching staff and players alike.

Coach Klint Kubiak acknowledged the issue on Monday, stating that the lack of production in the third quarter has put his team in a difficult position. The coach emphasized the importance of identifying common mistakes and finding ways to put players in better situations to succeed.

The Raiders' inability to maintain momentum after halftime has made their losses even more frustrating, as they had been competitive for most of each game before faltering in the final period.

The Raiders' struggles in the third quarter have been a recurring theme this season, and their latest loss to the Bills was no exception.

In Sunday's game against Buffalo, the Raiders were tied 13-13 at halftime but faltered in the third quarter, allowing the Bills to take control of the game. The turning point came when Kirk Cousins' interception set up a Buffalo touchdown, effectively ending any momentum the Raiders had gained.

The outcome was all too familiar for the Raiders, who have been unable to sustain their competitiveness beyond the midpoint of games. This trend has become increasingly frustrating, as they have shown flashes of brilliance only to collapse in the final quarter.

Cousins acknowledged that his team's inability to maintain its pace after halftime is a critical issue that needs attention, and he emphasized the need for improvement in this area during the upcoming week.

The Raiders' offense has been struggling to maintain its momentum after halftime, but quarterback Kirk Cousins was in top form for most of Sunday's game against the Bills.

Cousins threw for 313 yards, breaking the 300-yard mark for the second time in three games, and added two touchdown passes to Tre Tucker. This performance pushed Cousins' season tally of touchdown passes to 14, tying him with Trevor Lawrence of Jacksonville as the league leaders going into Monday night's games.

The Raiders have been inconsistent in scoring touchdowns when they reach the red zone, converting just 2 of 5 opportunities against Buffalo and 0 for 2 two weeks ago against the Chiefs. These losses were both by three points, suggesting that even slight improvements in this area could have made a difference.

Tucker's performance on Sunday was particularly notable, as he exploited the Bills' defense with his speed on a go route and made an impressive diving catch to secure one of his two touchdown catches.

The Raiders' defense has been struggling to contain opponents in the third quarter, allowing 30-plus points in each of their last three games. This is a concerning trend for the team, as it marks the first time they have given up such large point totals since late in the 2019 season.

The Raiders will face another challenging test when they meet the Los Angeles Rams next, with Matthew Stafford leading the offense. Tonka Hemingway, the team's defensive tackle, is expected to return to practice this week after missing some time due to a concussion.

---
Source: [ABC News Politics](https://abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory/raiders-focus-3rd-quarter-scoring-woes-after-losses-137400471)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/las-vegas-raiders-struggle-with-scoring-in-third-quarter/
