Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders’ top pick, wrapped up his preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers with a stat line that’ll make any fan do a double-take: 7-of-14 passing, 57 yards, and an interception. It was a rocky outing that has to leave the Las Vegas faithful wondering just what they’ve got in their highly touted rookie signal-caller.
Cousins Keeps It Clean, Mendoza Stumbles Early
Before Mendoza even stepped onto the turf, the veteran presence of Kirk Cousins set the tone. Cousins got the start for Las Vegas, and honestly, he played exactly like the seasoned pro you’d expect. He completed eight of his 11 passes for 51 yards, steering the offense through two series, both of which impressively led to field goals. That’s solid, consistent play, and it’s what you want from your starting quarterback, right? He got points on the board and kept things steady.
But man, once Cousins’ night was done and the spotlight swung over to Mendoza, that steady ship hit some serious choppy waters. Things got real bumpy, real fast for the top pick. His second pass of the night? A bit high, right into the hands of the 49ers’ Tatim Bethune for an interception. Talk about a brutal welcome to the pros! Mendoza’s second drive wasn’t much better, ending in a three-and-out after Keion White brought him down for a sack. He looked like he was finding a rhythm on his third series, but again, he took a sack, forcing the Raiders to punt. These early struggles are tough to watch for any team hoping their top draft pick is the future of the franchise.
A Glimmer of Hope, Then More Questions
Despite the rough start, Mendoza did show a flash of what could be, leading a strong two-minute drill before halftime that resulted in a field goal. It was a nice moment, giving a little hope amidst the early chaos. After the half, he once again put the Raiders in field goal position, only for kicker Matt Gay to miss the 54-yard attempt. You almost feel for the kid, putting his team in position only to have the points slip away.
Looking at his entire preseason, Mendoza finished his first three professional games with 240 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions on 25-of-45 passing. Those aren’t exactly eye-popping numbers for a top pick, are they? The Raiders are clearly expecting him to take some time to adjust before getting the reins to the offense. The big question now is how long do they wait for that adjustment to happen?
Every single snap in the NFL matters, even in the preseason, especially when you’re talking about the future of your quarterback position. The Raiders are banking on Mendoza taking time to adjust, but how much time do they really have? This preseason finale, for all its ups and downs, definitely gave us a lot to chew on. It’s not about just one game, it’s about what it means for the entire trajectory of their season. We’re all watching to see if Mendoza can take these tough lessons and transform them into game-winning performances when the lights truly get bright.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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