Preseason game No. 2 is in the books for the Las Vegas Raiders, and the reaction to Thursday night’s nationally televised meeting with the Houston Texans - including the chatter around Fernando Mendoza’s performance - has already taken off.
But after the first two preseason games, the part of the schedule that jumps out most is the middle stretch. These aren’t automatic season-defining dates, but they do have the feel of games that could be tight, interesting, and worth a close watch. Three in particular stand out.
The first is the trip to Cleveland. On paper, it could get ugly.
Still, there’s reason to think this Raiders team won’t walk in intimidated. The offense has flaws, sure, but not enough to make Sundays feel hopeless, even if third-down defense remains a concern right now.
If Las Vegas can hang around deep into the game, that would count as a win in its own way. And if Myles Garrett and the chance of Aaron Donald blowing up the Raiders’ guards become a real problem, that’s exactly the kind of matchup that could tell us a lot.
This is also a game I’ve had marked as a possible Mendoza debut, which would make things even more interesting and could open the door to an upset if the Rams’ linebackers keep having trouble with middle-field assignments.
Then there’s the San Francisco matchup, which has plenty going for it beyond the record books. Kyle Shanahan against Klint Kubiak is the kind of coaching duel that makes film junkies lean in.
It lands right in the middle of the season, at the halfway point, and both offenses bring the kind of flexibility that can create some wild personnel battles. The way San Francisco has used George Kittle over the years could line up in a fascinating way with how the Raiders use Brock Bowers.
Add in the old Oakland-to-San Francisco cross-town angle, and this one has real juice. The tight end matchup alone makes it worth circling.
The third game to watch is the one against Seattle. Kubiak’s meeting with his former team could be rough for him, but by then there’s a real chance Mendoza has already settled in as the Raiders’ long-term quarterback.
Either way, it should give a clearer picture of where this team stands after 10 weeks of the Kubiak era. The Seahawks, according to the source here, have a good chance of repeating as Super Bowl champions, and if they’re operating at that level, Las Vegas could still make it interesting.
The Raiders have enough individual talent and a few position groups that can swing a game, so this one comes with upset potential too.
In Other News...
Malik Benson Just Put His Raiders Opening Week Case In Trouble
Fernando Mendozas preseason outing against the Texans had its bright spots and its ugly ones, but for Malik Benson, the tape will mostly be remembered for the missed chances. The Raiders rookie wide receiver, who has flashed enough in training camp to generate some optimism, managed one catch for 18 yards while also putting two passes on the ground in a game where every clean rep mattered.
Benson came into the summer with a real opening to strengthen his case for regular-season snaps, especially as a late-round pick trying to carve out a role. Instead, the kind of mistakes that can linger in the minds of coaches showed up at an inopportune time, leaving his path to Week 1 looking a little less secure than it did before this preseason test. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Fans Will Notice How Fernando Mendoza Responded To One Brutal Mistake
Fernando Mendozas preseason debut for the Raiders had the kind of jolt that can change a game in a hurry, and it came on a play he would probably like to forget. The rookie quarterback threw an interception that Houston Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz turned into an 80-yard touchdown, a swing that immediately put Mendoza under a brighter spotlight as he continued working through the early stages of his NFL career.
What stood out, though, was the way Mendoza reacted after the mistake. Instead of easing up, he chased Woodaz and tried to make the tackle before the score was complete, a small but telling detail about how he handled the moment. Troy Aikman also noted on the broadcast that the play may have been the result of a miscommunication rather than a simple misread, which leaves the Raiders with a familiar preseason question - how much of a costly turnover was a quarterback mistake, and how much was just the kind of timing issue young passers have to clean up. [Read more 🡒]
Aidan OConnell May Have Just Ended A Raiders QB Debate
Aidan OConnell got the second-half chance in the Raiders preseason game against the Texans and made it count in a way that could matter long after August. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 166 yards, posted an 83.0 passer rating and even added a rushing touchdown, then capped the night by guiding Las Vegas on a 98-yard game-winning drive in a 22-20 win.
For a team still sorting out its quarterback pecking order, that kind of finish carries real weight. OConnell has been working to lock down the No. 2 job behind Kirk Cousins, and a poise-filled comeback drive in the preseason is exactly the sort of showing that can tilt a debate in his favor, even if the final call is still waiting to be made. [Read more 🡒]