Quiet efficiency on opening day
Kirk Cousins delivered a controlled performance in the Las Vegas season opener, completing 21 of 30 passes for 160 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions as the Raiders beat the Miami Dolphins 27-13.
Much of Cousins’ success came on short passes: he was 20-for-23 on throws within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage, while he went 1-for-7 on attempts beyond that range and threw both interceptions on deeper attempts.
Cousins manufactured sustained drives, and in Sunday’s season-opening victory he was notably efficient on short throws — 20-for-23 on passes within 10 yards — finishing 21-of-30 for 160 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He said the balance of play-calling will be dictated by what defenses show.
“(Deep) shots will get called,” Cousins said. “You’ve got to try to get them. If they’re not there, then you’ve got to check it down, and you’ve got to play for the next play. When we have a chance down the field, and they give us one, we’ve got to take advantage of it.”
Las‑vegas Review Journal noted the team will need to mix more successful deep shots so opponents can’t simply load the box once game plans are known.
From victory ritual to daily craving: the In‑N‑Out story
Cousins’ season-opening calm was offset by another kind of appetite: a quickly developing fondness for In‑N‑Out Burger since joining the team.
On Netflix’s "Quarterback," Cousins famously revealed a post-victory ritual of stopping at a popular Southern fast-food joint after wins — a habit he says has followed him to Las Vegas. “I have an In‑N‑Out problem,” Cousins admitted.
Bleacherreport reported Cousins has become a frequent patron of In‑N‑Out since signing with the Raiders, calling it “a great cheat meal” and saying he “can put down a lot of In‑N‑Out burgers.” He also told reporters that In‑N‑Out has supplanted Cook Out as his preferred cheat‑meal stop.
That preference extends beyond celebrations. Cousins acknowledged he doesn’t limit trips to wins, and Las‑vegas Review Journal recounted an August visit where, hungry, he ate three 3-by-3 burgers in one sitting — a feat that reportedly impressed teammate Kolton Miller.
Cousins said the hardest part is the lines, and he’s tried different times of day to avoid waits. “I’m not a very patient person,” he added, explaining why he often goes inside rather than waiting in the drive-thru to get his meal the fastest.
The combination is now part of Cousins’ Las Vegas routine: steady production on the field and a very public conversion to one of the West Coast’s most talked-about late‑night meals.
