Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, had a brutal first half on the field that saw him throw a pick-six and lead the Raiders’ offense to a measly three points. This was no ordinary rough outing; it was a nightmarish debut against the Houston Texans’ backup defensive players. When your top draft pick plays the entire first half and that’s the result? Yikes.
A Rookie Nightmare Against the Backups
Mendoza’s stat line for the half was grim: 8-of-15 for only 86 yards. He was sacked once, hit four other times, and generally looked like he was running for his life out there. The Raiders opened the game with a 55-yard drive, which included a promising 22-yard pass from Mendoza to Jalen Nailor. You thought, “Okay, maybe he’s settling in!” But then Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz stepped in front of Mike Washington Jr., snagged the interception, and sprinted 80 yards for a touchdown. A pick-six! A gut-punch that screams trouble. To add to the woes, Malik Benson dropped what could have been a big gain. The only points on the board for the Raiders in that entire half came from Matt Gay’s 52-yard field goal. They were trailing 20-3 at halftime, and Mendoza was done for the night.
Encouragement Can’t Hide the Struggle
Despite the on-field disaster, veteran edge rusher Maxx Crosby met Mendoza on the sideline with words of encouragement. Crosby told ESPN that Mendoza “has been great,” acknowledging that rookies “start all the way back at the bottom.” Crosby highlighted Mendoza’s “right attitude,” his hard work, and how he’s “in here every single day encouraging dudes.” All that effort and positive attitude is great, no doubt. But the facts are right there on the scoreboard: one pick-six, five hits taken, and only three points against a group of backup defenders. When Aidan O’Connell came in to start the second half, it made a pretty clear statement about the trust level after that performance.
What does a night like this mean for the No. 1 overall pick? You’ve got to wonder how the Raiders are feeling about this early look. Mendoza needs to bounce back, and he needs to do it fast, because an outing like that against backups raises some serious questions about what’s ahead for him on the field.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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