Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak wore his postgame dismay like a Halloween costume Sunday after a 33-30 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Allegiant Stadium.

Conspicuously.

First year or not with the Raiders, he doesn’t believe in feel-good losses following a 3-0 start this season.

Not when Las Vegas is 3-3.

“I don’t think you look big picture (at how to stop the three-game losing streak),” Kubiak said. “You look at the next game. That’s what you have to do.”

No, the Raiders weren’t overwhelmed like they were by the New England Patriots last week, but they weren’t good enough situationally to beat the AFC favorites. A wasted third-quarter challenge from Kubiak — that would have netted 2 or 3 yards if it was successful, prompting acknowledged regret — and botched fourth-down tush push (that was negated by a false start) with fullback Connor Heyward played a part in Las Vegas losing the margins.

Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins also threw late over the middle en route to a third-quarter interception, gifting Buffalo three more points with the matchup’s lone turnover. He also completed 23 of 41 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns to wide receiver Tre Tucker, but Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen outgunned him.

Allen completed 23 of 33 passes for 255 yards and a pair of scores, five times rushing for a single yard but using his mobility to outpace pressure. His second touchdown, a 12-yard pass to wide receiver Keon Coleman, was a backhand flip, before which he danced around rusher after rusher after rusher after rusher.

Buffalo running back James Cook accounted for 153 yards from scrimmage and the tiebreaking touchdown with 4:43 to play.

“A difficult loss. Everybody battled. Played hard,” Cousins said. “We were well prepared going into the game but just didn’t make enough plays.”

Here’s why Las Vegas (3-3) lost to Buffalo (5-1):

Rushing offense struggles … again: The NFL’s least-efficient rushing offense was inefficient once again, though its 3.3 yards per carry (2o carries for 65 yards) vs. Buffalo improved its seasonal average (3.0). Running back Ashton Jeanty said his balky foot and ankle felt better this week — he sprained his ankle during a preseason practice and was limited last week by a foot injury — but his 10 carries went for 22 yards.

He scored his first rushing touchdown this year, though, adding four receptions for 36 yards. But he’s averaging 3.2 yards per carry this season after 3.7 a season ago.

Backup running back Mike Washington Jr. had a season-high nine carries for 43 yards, his 18-yard, fourth-quarter burst up the middle aiding the Raiders with their game-tying score.

“He gave us a spark. He did some good stuff,” Kubiak said. “He’s been practicing well. Had some good runs for us. Between him and Dylan (Laube) and Ashton, we’re going to play all those guys.

Laube’s lone carry didn’t gain or lose a yard.

No takeaways: The Raiders forced nine turnovers en route to wins in their first three games, but the takeaways stopped once the opposition improved. Their three victories — over the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints — were against opponents who started play Sunday with a 1-14 record combined.

In losses to the Kansas City Chiefs, Patriots and Bills, they’ve accounted for one total takeaway.

Allen, during his first five games, threw four interceptions and committed four fumbles, but deftly navigated the pocket to throw on time and on target with poise. Cook also had four fumbles in five games, but didn’t relinquish the football against the Raiders amid 25 touches from scrimmage.

“We’ve got to take the ball away. That’s a big part of it,” defensive end Maxx Crosby said. “We were taking the ball away early in the sesaon a lot. We haven’t done the last couple weeks and, you know, we’ve lost. So, I put that on us.”

Cousins lamented his interception: “Really hurt us.”

Red-zone inefficiency: Five times Las Vegas reached the red zone, twice scoring touchdowns and thrice kicking field goals. Buffalo reached it five times too, but three times came away with touchdowns. Kubiak said going 2 for 5 for touchdowns is “unacceptable” and that it “starts with” him.

The first red-zone field goal was needed after center Tyler Linderbaum committed a false start on fourth-and-1 when Hayward was set for a snap-and-sneak. The second came as the second quarter ended with a pair of penalties helping the cause, but with 15 seconds at the 14-yard line, Cousins threw to Tucker for a 5-yard gain.

The last kick came in the final quarter and capped a 15-play, 70-yard drive. First-and-goal from the 2-yard line preceded stuffed runs by Washington and Jeanty back-to-back and an incomplete slant to wideout Cody White.

”Those are the things we’ll be talking about tomorrow,” Cousins said, “And then honestly, the other several possessions run together right now. But anytime you leave points on the board in the red zone, it’s hard.”

Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.