ESPN analyst Ben Solak is calling it: Kirk Cousins has just one more start before the Las Vegas Raiders hand the keys to their offense to the No. 1 overall draft pick, Fernando Mendoza. After dropping their last two games, the Raiders are 3-2 on the season, and it seems like the honeymoon period for Cousins is officially over, with Mendoza’s time potentially starting in Week 7.
The Wheels Are Falling Off in Vegas, and a Change Is Brewing
Man, it looked so good for the Raiders just a couple of weeks ago. They were 3-0, flying high, but then they hit a wall. Losing to the Kansas City Chiefs and then getting embarrassed by the New England Patriots in Week 5? That’s rough. Kirk Cousins and the Raiders’ offense have just not been clicking the last two weeks. Sure, Brock Bowers is still doing his thing and looking incredible, but the running game is a mess, and the wide receiver room isn’t exactly lighting it up. In that ugly Patriots game, Fernando Mendoza actually got his first taste of NFL action, and from what we hear, he looked fine. Now, with the Buffalo Bills up next in Week 6, the window for a quarterback change is wide open.
Why This Pivot Isn’t as Crazy as It Sounds
Ben Solak isn’t just throwing darts, either. He predicts Cousins will get that one more start against the Bills, and then it’s “Fernando Mendoza time.” Solak says, “To quickly pivot from Cousins to Mendoza might feel like an early abandonment plan. But I would argue that the pivot is justified.” Think about it: the Raiders are 3-2, only 1.5 games back of the AFC West lead, the Chargers are collapsing, and the Broncos aren’t the dominant force they were last year. There’s a real path to the playoffs for this team. Getting Mendoza on the field early, giving him time to learn and gel with the offense before the second half of the year, especially with a potential playoff push looming, just makes a ton of sense.
Mendoza’s Rough Road Ahead, Including Our Seahawks
If Solak’s prediction holds, Mendoza’s first start would be Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams, which is a home game, thankfully, for an NFL starting debut. After that? Week 8 against the New York Jets on the road. But here’s where it gets really spicy for us here in the Emerald City: *after* those two games, the Raiders hit a brutal stretch of three straight tough matchups. They face the San Francisco 49ers, then our very own Seattle Seahawks, and finally the Denver Broncos. Talk about a trial by fire for a rookie QB! While some might argue waiting until Week 12 against the Cleveland Browns for a debut, that’s way too deep into the regular season. The appeal of getting Mendoza in there now, giving him time to settle before that gauntlet, including his Lumen Field visit, is too strong to ignore.
So, all eyes on the Raiders’ Week 6 game against the Bills. After that, we could be watching the debut of the future of the Raiders’ franchise, and our Seahawks will be one of his early tests!
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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