Brock Bowers return proving Raiders 3-0 start no flash in the pan

NEW ORLEANS – It didn’t take long for Brock Bowers to remind the Raiders what they had been missing in their 35-27 win over the Saints to move to 3-0.Making his season debut Sunday against the Saints, the star tight end caught 10 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, with several receptions worthy of the highlight reel.The Raiders had managed to win their first two games without Bowers.That spoke to the foundation coach Klint Kubiak was establishing and quarterback Kirk Cousins’ ability to make it work without his most accomplished pass catcher.But there is a difference between compensating for someone’s absence and taking advantage of everything he offers.Bowers wasted little time illustrating it.His seven catches for 87 yards in the first half helped fuel four scoring drives, giving Cousins a dependable connection and the Saints another problem to solve.

And he kept adding to that production, showing how valuable his presence can be to an offense still discovering its potential.His impact extends beyond the passes thrown his way.Bowers’ ability to threaten the middle of the field forces defenses to devote attention that might otherwise go toward helping against Tre Tucker and the Raiders’ other receivers.Extra resources committed to Bowers can create opportunities elsewhere.For Kubiak, that expands the possibilities.

For Cousins, it provides another answer.That becomes especially valuable when the running game struggles, as it did again Sunday.The Raiders still need to establish more consistency on the ground, but Bowers gives them a difference-maker capable of helping overcome those shortcomings.The encouraging part is that he returned to an offense that had already found contributions from other pass catchers and helped deliver consecutive wins.Now the Raiders can build on that foundation with their best offensive weapon back in the lineup.Sunday offered a compelling look at how much more dangerous that can make them.For most of Sunday’s game, t...