The Las Vegas Raiders pulled off a dramatic 38-33 comeback win over the New York Jets on Sunday, erasing a nine-point halftime deficit to snap a four-game losing streak. The Raiders trailed 23-14 at the break and fell behind 30-21 early in the third quarter before Kirk Cousins led the comeback with three straight scoring drives. Brock Bowers was at the center of it all, catching seven passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
Both scores came on impressive catches in traffic, with the tight end showing his elite ability as a pass catcher. The Raiders improved to 4-4 with the win, while the Jets have dropped to 2-6. After the win, Cousins had some incredibly high praise for Bowers, comparing his ability to make contested catches to what he experienced playing with Justin Jefferson in Minnesota.
"The coaching point with Brock has been like it was with Justin," Cousins said. "When he's covered, you still need to throw it." More news: Ravens Hit With Blunt Assessment After Costly Loss to Buffalo Cousins has played with some all-time pass catchers throughout his NFL career, including Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson in Washington, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen in Minnesota, and eventually Jefferson. Cousins emphasized how he typically prefers to work through his progressions and looks for open receivers rather than forcing the ball into tight coverage, which says a lot about just how talented Bowers is.
More news: NFL Insider Sounds the Alarm on Justin Jefferson After Vikings’ Loss More news: Jets Are Winning the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams Trades Bowers has once again looked like the best tight end in the game this season, hauling in 41 catches for 547 yards, the most of any player in his position, and five touchdowns across six games. His combination of size, speed, body control, strong hands, and ability to make catches through contact makes him a nearly impossible player to defend. The comparison to Jefferson isn't necessarily about playing the same position or even having identical skill sets.
It more so speaks to having the kind of talent that makes a player feel open even when they're not. That's an enormous compliment for someone who's still just 23 years old and in their third NFL season.
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