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Raiders' Dylan Laube Ends 15-Year Drought with Historic Kickoff Return
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- Raiders' Dylan Laube Ends 15-Year Drought with Historic Kickoff Return
(USA TODAY NETWORK)
The Las Vegas Raiders ended a 15-year special teams drought Sunday, thanks to a spectacular play from a running back returning to his home state.
Dylan Laube returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown during Las Vegas' 38-33 comeback victory over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
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It was the NFL's first kickoff-return touchdown of the 2026 season and the Raiders' first since Jacoby Ford accomplished the feat in 2011.
The moment was particularly meaningful for Laube, a native of Westhampton, New York, who delivered the biggest play of his professional career in front of a hometown crowd.
According to the Raiders' official game recap , NFL Next Gen Stats clocked Laube at 20.97 mph during the return.
The touchdown came early in the second quarter, immediately after former Raiders quarterback Geno Smith connected with Isaiah Williams for an 18-yard score that gave New York a 13-7 lead.
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Laube responded by racing down the sideline and into the end zone, putting Las Vegas back ahead 14-13.
The third-year running back's touchdown provided an important spark in a game that featured several momentum swings.
New York eventually built a 23-14 halftime advantage before extending its lead to 30-21 in the third quarter.
But the Raiders mounted a comeback behind quarterback Kirk Cousins, who threw three touchdown passes and added a rushing score.
Tight end Brock Bowers caught two touchdown passes, adding to a performance in which he broke an NFL receiving record previously held by Hall of Famer Mike Ditka .
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Cousins later connected with Jalen Nailor for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Raiders' defense secured the victory when safety Jeremy Chinn intercepted Smith in the end zone during the closing seconds.
The 38-33 comeback victory snapped Las Vegas' four-game losing streak and improved its record to 4-4.
For Laube, the return represented a memorable breakthrough after entering the NFL as a sixth-round selection out of New Hampshire in 2024.
His contribution also highlighted the importance of special teams for a Raiders team attempting to remain competitive in the AFC West.
Laube delivered exactly what Las Vegas needed Sunday, turning a kickoff into a touchdown and ending a drought that had lasted since Ford's playing days.
