Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, finally got his first taste of NFL action on Sunday, stepping into a game that was already out of reach. With the Raiders trailing the Patriots by a brutal 45-17 in the fourth quarter, Kirk Cousins, who has been impressive early this season, took a seat. In came the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, taking his first pro snaps since the preseason.
A Spark Amidst The Rout
Seriously, this game was a mess for Las Vegas. The Patriots were absolutely trouncing them by the middle of the fourth, and the scoreline says it all: 45-17. Cousins might be the guy, but there was no coming back from that. So Klint Kubiak made the call, plugging in Mendoza to get him some real game reps. What happened next? The Raiders’ offense, which had been flatlining, actually started to show signs of life with Mendoza under center. You love to see a rookie come in and just *change* the energy like that, even in a blowout.
Rookie Stats and Red Zone Frustration
Mendoza wasted no time showing why he was the No. 1 pick. He completed his first five pass attempts, including a sweet connection with Tre Tucker that picked up a first down. He moved the ball, getting that drive all the way into the red zone! Now, it did fizzle out at the New England 14-yard line when he only gained three yards on a fourth-and-4. Bummer, but for a guy thrown into a dumpster fire situation, that’s not bad. His final stat line for his single drive looked like this: 6 completions on 8 attempts for 48 passing yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He even added one rush for three yards. Not too shabby for a debut.
Look, the Raiders are still sitting at 3-2, which is respectable. Their defense was clearly the problem on Sunday, letting the Patriots run wild. So while Mendoza absolutely showed some flashes, it’s pretty clear Kirk Cousins is gonna remain the starter for now. But you gotta admit, Mendoza’s first impression? He definitely didn’t hurt his case for future snaps. Keep an eye on this kid. When will we see him again? Probably depends on how many more times the defense puts them in a 45-17 hole!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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