Fernando Mendoza’s first night in a Raiders uniform gave Las Vegas plenty to evaluate, even if the result went the wrong way.
In Thursday’s preseason opener, the No. 1 overall pick threw a touchdown pass and played four full drives, but the Raiders still fell 27-14 to the visiting Arizona Cardinals. Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Indiana, finished 10 of 16 for 97 yards and the score, a 6-yard connection with Jack Bech. He also helped push the Raiders into field-goal range on his final series, though the 38-yard try missed.
The other quarterback in the mix for the Raiders’ Week 1 job made his case quickly. Kirk Cousins handled the opening drive and was efficient, going 5 of 6 for 50 yards and a touchdown before heading to the sideline. That short outing was enough to show why Mendoza still has work to do if he wants to lock down the starting role.
Arizona was without rookie quarterback Carson Beck, who sat out with a rib injury after opening eyes in last week’s Hall of Fame Game. The Cardinals did get a look at Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 overall pick out of Notre Dame, and he produced 58 rushing yards on 11 carries in his preseason debut.
Across the league, Joe Burrow got a brief tune-up in Cincinnati’s 16-14 win over Detroit. Burrow played two series, completing 5 of 6 passes for 39 yards and taking one sack before handing things off. Joe Flacco then led the Bengals’ only touchdown drive, hitting Jack Endries on a 4-yard score in the second quarter, while Evan McPherson added three field goals, including a long of 56 yards.
Detroit’s rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer threw for 130 yards, a late touchdown and two interceptions, finishing 13 of 22. Joshua Dobbs also debuted in a Lions uniform after signing Monday following the retirement of backup Teddy Bridgewater, and he went 4 of 8 for 32 yards. Jared Goff did not play.
Pittsburgh’s offense looked sharp in a 28-9 win over Green Bay, even without Aaron Rodgers taking the field against his former team. Drew Allar threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and the Steelers’ trio of quarterbacks - Allar, Mason Rudolph and Will Howard - combined to go 27 of 33 for 332 yards. Lew Nichols added 36 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Green Bay’s scoring came from Trey Smack’s three field goals, with a long of 58. Jordan Love was 3 of 5 for 18 yards, and Kyle McCord handled the most quarterback snaps, going 12 of 16 for 102 yards.
In Foxborough, the Colts and Patriots played to a 13-13 tie after Spencer Shrader drilled fourth-quarter field goals from 46 and 61 yards. Anthony Richardson started for Indianapolis and played the first half, finishing 11 of 14 for 145 yards with an interception while also rushing six times for 53 yards and a touchdown. Daniel Jones did not play.
Tommy DeVito was New England’s most productive quarterback, going 13 of 22 for 138 yards and a touchdown. Drake Maye sat out.
The Chargers put together the biggest offensive number of the night in a 27-7 win at Houston, piling up 379 yards in their first game under coordinator Mike McDaniel. Amar Johnson scored twice on the ground and added a 2-point conversion, while the Los Angeles running game and quarterback rotation kept the Texans on their heels.
With Justin Herbert out, Trey Lance threw for 164 yards and an interception, and DJ Uiagalelei added 120 yards and a touchdown. Johnson, an undrafted player in 2025 who had 8 yards on two carries for the Chargers last season, finished with 17 yards on six carries but made every touch count.
Houston got a touchdown pass from veteran backup Davis Mills, who finished with 82 yards through the air. C.J. Stroud did not play, and rookie Noah Whittington led the Texans on the ground with 40 yards on 13 carries.
In Other News...
Cardinals Win Brought One Roster Concern Fans Cant Ignore
The Cardinals left Allegiant Stadium with a 27-14 preseason win over the Raiders, and there was enough on the field to like in the way Arizona pieced together scoring drives. Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins helped set the tone, and the offense had enough rhythm to make the result look comfortable by August standards.
Still, the bigger takeaway for Arizona had less to do with the final score and more to do with the roster picture. Rookie Carson Beck had already been ruled out before kickoff with a rib injury, and then Chase Bisontis went down with a left knee injury during the game, leaving his long-term outlook uncertain at a time when the Cardinals can least afford more uncertainty up front. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Brooks Is Turning Into A Real Cardinals Roster Problem
Jalen Brooks has put himself on the Cardinals radar in a way that has been hard to ignore through the first two preseason games. The second-year wideout has already topped his production from last season, and the early returns have included sharp route running and a touchdown in the second exhibition, the kind of showing that tends to get a receiver noticed by coaches sorting through a crowded position group.
Brooks progress, though, only sharpens the roster math in Arizona. The Cardinals have competition brewing at the back end of the wide receiver room, and Brooks is right in the mix as the team tries to sort out who fits best for the regular season. Even with the momentum he has built, the decision is still unsettled, which is exactly what makes his preseason surge such an interesting subplot. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Finally Show Progress But One Rookie Concern Looms
The Cardinals got the kind of preseason response they were looking for against the Raiders, with both sides of the ball looking far more settled than they had at other points this summer. Arizona moved the ball efficiently enough to score 27 points, while the defense held up well in a 27-14 win that offered a cleaner snapshot of where the team stands heading into the final stretch of camp.
Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew each helped drive the offense with touchdown passes, giving the Cardinals a more confident rhythm under center. The only cloud came when rookie Chase Bisontis left with an apparent knee injury, a reminder that even on a night of progress, the roster picture can change quickly and the line depth remains a point worth watching. [Read more 🡒]