Las Vegas finally got a look at Fernando Mendoza in Week 5, and the rookie quarterback’s first NFL action came in a rough spot: a 45-17 loss to the New England Patriots.
Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, entered late in the fourth quarter and went 6-for-8 for 48 passing yards on his lone drive. That series ended with a turnover on downs, and it immediately sharpened the conversation around what the Raiders do next under center.
That question was front and center Monday, with head coach Klint Kubiak addressing whether Mendoza could be in line to start Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills. With Las Vegas now on its second straight loss, the quarterback situation is starting to draw real attention.
The Raiders opened the season by surprising just about everyone. They went 3-0 in September and outscored opponents 88-54, but that early run came against the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints, who are currently a combined 1-14.
Since then, the schedule has turned brutally difficult. Las Vegas dropped Week 4 to the Kansas City Chiefs and then got rolled by New England in Week 5. The next six games don’t offer much relief either, with home dates against the Bills in Week 6, the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7 and the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10, plus road trips to face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 9 and the Denver Broncos in Week 11.
The Raiders do have their bye in Week 13, and Mendoza’s presence adds another layer to whatever comes next. Depending on how Kirk Cousins performs over the next stretch, Kubiak could turn to the reigning Heisman Trophy winner sooner rather than later.
Cousins, 38, has completed 65.1% of his passes this season for 1,269 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions over five games. His passer rating sits at 100.7.
In Other News...
Raiders Run Game Issues Put Klint Kubiak On The Spot
Klint Kubiak did not try to soften the conversation around the Raiders run game when he met with reporters, acknowledging the offense has work to do after another stretch of frustrating results on the ground. The head coach pointed to Ashton Jeantys drops and the way the offensive line has performed, making it clear those issues have become part of a larger offensive concern rather than isolated mistakes.
Kubiak also touched on rookie Mike Washington Jr. and why his role has remained limited, while explaining the decision to go with another player on a key fourth-quarter snap. The bigger takeaway was the same one hanging over Las Vegas all along: the Raiders have to sort out both personnel and coaching approaches if they want the run game to become dependable again. [Read more 🡒]
Sean Payton Sends Mixed Message On Broncos Offense After Big Change
The Broncos are still sorting through the ripple effects of their recent change in offensive playcalling, and Sean Paytons comments landed somewhere between patient and pointed. He acknowledged the challenges the move has created, but he also made a point of praising the way his players have handled the transition, a sign that Denver is trying to steady itself while the offense works through a reset.
For the Raiders, the attention shifts to quarterback Fernando Mendoza, whose NFL debut came in late relief during a blowout loss to the Patriots. He finished 6 of 8 for 48 yards, a small sample that at least offered a first look at what he can do, even if it arrived under difficult circumstances. Head coach Klint Kubiak said there will be no change to the Raiders starters, leaving Mendozas next step tied more to development than any immediate shake-up. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Quarterback Situation Suddenly Feels Closer To A Breaking Point
The Raiders quarterback picture did not get any simpler coming out of the latest loss, even if the immediate answer at the top of the depth chart stayed the same. Klint Kubiak confirmed that Kirk Cousins remains the starter, while also making clear that rookie Fernando Mendozas first regular-season action was viewed as part of the ongoing evaluation rather than a changing of the guard. Mendoza was in there with backups around him, a less-than-ideal setting for any young passer trying to make a first impression.
What stood out most, though, was Kubiak putting the offensive shortcomings on himself after a lopsided defeat. He said he did not have a good plan, and the offense managed to score on only three of its 11 possessions, a flat enough showing to keep the pressure on the entire operation. For now, the Raiders still have their declared No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks, but the larger issue is whether the offense can stabilize before the questions around that room start getting louder. [Read more 🡒]