Four straight losses. That’s the brutal reality for the Las Vegas Raiders after starting the season 3-0, and now first-year head coach Klint Kubiak is putting “everything” on the table to get them back on track, including a potential seismic shift at quarterback. Veteran Kirk Cousins has started all seven games this season, but Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, could be starting sooner than later.
From 3-0 to 3-4: What Went Wrong?
This is the kind of skid that makes coaches desperate, and Kubiak sure sounds like a guy looking for answers after the Raiders’ 35-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday, Oct. 25. “I think at this point, we’re thinking about everything,” Kubiak told reporters, via Vegas Sports Today. “How to fix our problems, how to fix our issues in the red zone, in the third quarter. Personnel, scheme, we’ve got to talk about all of it.”
Cousins’ numbers against the Rams weren’t terrible on paper: 26-of-44 passing for 295 yards and two touchdowns. But if you watched the game, or any Raiders game this season, you know the real issue: the run game, or lack thereof. Las Vegas rushed a dismal 17 times for 48 yards, a paltry 2.8 yards per carry against the Rams. The team entered Week 7 ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing yards per game, averaging only 79.2. That’s a disaster, plain and simple.
The #1 Pick’s Time Is Now?
This is where it gets spicy. Fernando Mendoza, the highly touted No. 1 overall pick, has been waiting in the wings, and it sounds like his time might be here. He made his regular-season debut during a Week 4 road loss to the New England Patriots on Oct. 11. He finished that game 6-for-8 passing for 48 yards, though the Patriots were playing prevent defense with the game already decided.
Mendoza wasn’t exactly thrilled with his first taste of NFL action, telling reporters after that game, “It wasn’t a great experience because of the overall outcome, and I wanted to do my part any way that I could help the team. I was called upon, and I really appreciate all my teammates, especially some of the starters, still having the fight to win and a fighting effort. So I really appreciate all of those guys for bringing their best effort for that last drive.” Sounds like a guy ready to contribute more.
And here’s the kicker: Cousins, who signed what’s essentially a one-year deal with the Raiders, clearly knows the long-term vision involves handing the keys to Mendoza. Cousins’ mentality hasn’t changed since joining the team in April, and he even said, “If I’m not the best option, I don’t want to be out there either. I want our football team to have the best chance to win games. I feel that Fernando has done a great job. He has a bright future ahead. I’m going to try and go out there and play as well as I possibly can and try and win and give him a good example to learn from.” That’s a veteran move, but it also sounds like a guy preparing for the inevitable.
The Raiders are in scramble mode, looking for any spark to turn this season around. The question isn’t *if* a change is coming, it’s *when*. The eyes of the league will be on Las Vegas to see who takes the field next for that first snap.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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