The Raiders have spent the first two weeks of the season looking like one of the league’s early surprises, and Kirk Cousins is a big reason why. Las Vegas is 2-0, and the veteran quarterback has turned that rebuilt QB room into something a lot less clear-cut than it looked before the season.
Cousins won the starting job over Fernando Mendoza to open the year, and so far he’s backed that decision with production. Through two games, he’s thrown six touchdowns and has already shown he can carry the offense in Kubiak’s system. Against the Chargers, he was especially sharp, piling up 253 yards and three scores against a Los Angeles defense that allowed the ninth-fewest points per game last season.
That kind of start has naturally changed the conversation around Mendoza. Before the season, plenty of people assumed the rookie would eventually take over.
Now, Cousins has at least bought himself time, and maybe more than that. At 38, he’s not just putting up numbers - he’s also making himself a central figure in the locker room.
There are still flaws in the performance. Cousins has thrown an interception in both games, and mobility is never going to be part of his selling point.
When defenses collapse the pocket, that limitation shows up fast. But the bigger picture is hard to ignore: he’s one of only two quarterbacks to throw at least three touchdowns in each of his first two games this season, and he’s the first Raiders quarterback to do that in silver and black since Ken Stabler in 1976.
So where does that leave Mendoza? The No. 1 pick has a lot of the same traits as Cousins, just in a younger package.
He’s still viewed as Kubiak’s quarterback of the future, but right now the job belongs to Cousins. The original plan was for Mendoza to learn behind the scenes, and Cousins’ hot start only strengthens that setup.
That doesn’t mean the rookie is buried. The schedule ahead is rough, with games against the Saints, Chiefs, Patriots, Bills, Rams, Jets, 49ers, Seahawks and Broncos all looming as potential trouble spots.
If Cousins’ play slips, that could open the door. A road game against the Browns on Nov. 29, one week before the bye, stands out as the most obvious spot to make a change if Las Vegas decides to go that direction.
For now, though, there’s no real reason to expect a switch. Cousins has earned a longer leash, and nothing about Mendoza suggests he’d be upset about waiting his turn - especially if Cousins keeps stacking wins and making history.
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Raiders Win Still Exposed A Problem Fans Know Too Well
The Raiders left Week 2 with a win over the Chargers, and for stretches they looked like a team capable of leaning on the parts of the roster that were working. The defense kept Los Angeles from finding much through the air, while the offense got a big early lift from wide receiver Tucker, whose first-half production gave Las Vegas the kind of spark it had been searching for since camp and preseason.
Still, the same familiar issues showed up again in a game the Raiders were able to survive. The running game never really got going, third-down success remained a problem, and some of the play-calling left room for questions even in a victory. It was the kind of outing that can feel encouraging and frustrating at the same time, because the Raiders won while also reminding everyone there is still plenty to clean up. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders 2-0 Start Has Fans Asking If This Team Is Different
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Kirk Cousins was central to it, finishing 19 of 29 for 253 yards and three touchdowns while giving the Raiders the kind of quarterback play they have been searching for. Klint Kubiak is now the fourth full-time head coach in franchise history to win his first two games, and with the salary cap already part of the bigger conversation, the next question is how long this version of the Raiders can stay together before the contract talk really starts to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Harbaugh Already Has A Chargers Problem That Could Get Worse
Jim Harbaughs first month with the Chargers has not exactly inspired confidence, and the early results have only amplified the concerns. Los Angeles opened the 2026 season with back-to-back losses to teams that missed the playoffs a year ago, a rough start for a roster that was supposed to look sharper on both sides of the ball. Instead, the Chargers have had trouble keeping opponents out of the end zone, have been beaten badly through the air, and have given away too many possessions to feel stable.
For a Raiders team watching the AFC West from across the rivalry, the bigger issue may be what comes next for Harbaugh if the slide continues. The schedule is about to stiffen, with playoff teams lining up ahead, and that kind of stretch can turn an early stumble into a much louder conversation about accountability. If the Chargers do not find answers quickly, the pressure around Harbaugh is only going to grow. [Read more 🡒]