Chris Jones Hails Kirk Cousins as 'a Warrior' After Chiefs Edge Raiders 30-27

The Kansas City defensive tackle saluted the Las Vegas quarterback after a 30-27 Week 4 result at Allegiant Stadium that went down to the final minutes.

The Kansas City Chiefs found a way past the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4, earning a 30-27 decision at Allegiant Stadium in a game that remained tense into the closing minutes. Once it ended, Chris Jones wanted the opposing quarterback to know how much respect he had earned. The Chiefs defensive tackle aimed his praise squarely at Kirk Cousins, whose play kept the Raiders within striking distance from opening kickoff to final whistle.

Cousins' production supported that view. He connected on 31 of 52 throws for 365 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also engineered a possession in the final minutes that gave Las Vegas an opportunity to draw even, though the chance ultimately went unconverted.

When Jones spoke with reporters after the final whistle, his regard for the veteran quarterback came through at once. "[Cousins is] a warrior on that field," Jones said. "We knew it was going to be a physical game. We knew it was going to come down to four quarters, maybe a fifth quarter if possible, but they fought to the end."

The admiration was not limited to one man. Jones has gone head-to-head with the Raiders for 11 years, and he delivered a glowing review of the current group and its head coach, Klint Kubiak. "That's a really, really good team there, and they have a great head coach," Jones said. "I've played the Raiders for 11 years. I've seen different versions of them, but at the present time, that's a really, really good team."

Neither side could fully shake the other for three quarters, and the fourth was where Kansas City finally created distance. The Chiefs accounted for 20 points in that period alone. Kenneth Walker III supplied much of the power, finishing with 177 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Las Vegas refused to let the game drift away even as the gap widened. With 1:46 left on the clock, Cousins found Brock Bowers for a touchdown that brought the Raiders back within three points, keeping the outcome in doubt until the finish.

Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby handled the defeat with a similar willingness to hand out credit. He tipped his cap to Kansas City while maintaining that his team had believed a win was within its grasp. "We've got to give them credit," Crosby said following the loss.

The result handed Las Vegas its first defeat of the season, leaving the club at 3-1 through four games. Kansas City moved to 4-0 with the win.

Taken together, the remarks from the winning side captured how hard the latest meeting between the two clubs was fought — and the high regard the Chiefs carry for Cousins and the current Raiders roster.