Fernando Mendoza, the 2026 No. 1 overall pick, finally hit the NFL field in Week 5, taking over for Kirk Cousins in the Raiders’ brutal 45-17 blowout loss to the New England Patriots. Yeah, you read that right, a No. 1 overall pick making his debut down by 28 points in the fourth quarter. Talk about a tough spot for the 23-year-old and 2025 Heisman Trophy winner.
Mendoza’s First NFL Drive Was a Rollercoaster
Mendoza stepped into the huddle with just over six minutes left, after Cousins had gone 19-of-28 for 243 yards and a touchdown. And dude, Mendoza started off hot, going 5-for-5 on his first snaps! He even ripped off a 16-yard pass on what would be Vegas’ final offensive drive of the game. You’re thinking, “Okay, here we go, maybe a late spark!” But then, the rookie threw his first incompletion on 1st-and-10 from the Patriots’ 20-yard line. He followed it up with a 6-yard pass that set up 3rd-and-4, but then another incompletion made it fourth down. The Raiders, with nothing to lose, went for it. Mendoza scrambled, put in some effort, but he fell just short of the line to gain. Turnover on downs, and that was pretty much it before the Patriots went into victory formation. Not exactly what you dream of for your first NFL drive. His final stat line? A clean 6-of-8 for 48 yards, with zero touchdowns, zero picks, and zero sacks taken. Respectable for the circumstances, right?
What Does This Early Glimpse Mean?
It’s pretty wild that Mendoza, as the No. 1 overall selected quarterback, didn’t start Week 1. That hasn’t happened since Baker Mayfield back in 2018. He was holding down the backup role for Cousins, who, to his credit, was tied for the league lead in passing touchdowns with 11 heading into this week. This loss stings for the Raiders, too. They were one of the league’s last undefeated teams, but now they’ve dropped two straight, falling to 3-2 after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs last week. Meanwhile, the Patriots are looking solid, extending their win streak to two games and hitting 3-2 themselves after beating the Buffalo Bills in Week 4. It shows you how brutal the AFC schedule can be when you’re facing tough opponents back-to-back.
The Raiders have another massive challenge waiting for them next week. They’re going up against the Bills. After two straight losses, they’ve gotta find a way to stop this skid if they want to get this season back on track.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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