The Las Vegas Raiders decided months ago that they preferred Kirk Cousins starting the season at quarterback while Fernando Mendoza sat and learned.
Based on preseason results, it seems like that might be a reasonable call.
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Cousins played in two of the Raiders’ preseason games and generally looked sharp and confident in new coach Klint Kubiak’s offense. He played two possessions on on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers and the Raiders got a field goal on each of them. Mendoza, the first pick of this year’s NFL Draft, had some good preseason moments too but he threw an interception for the second straight game and generally struggled.
Mendoza’s second pass of the game was an interception. Mendoza tried to squeeze a pass over the 49ers’ linebackers dropping into coverage and it was high to Jalen Nailor. The pass went off Nailor’s hands and was picked off. That was Mendoza’s second interception of the preseason. The first was a pick 6 in last week’s game against the Texans.
Mendoza was sacked twice and had just 38 passing yards in the first half. He had four drives before halftime: two ended with a punt, one with an interception and then the Raiders got a field goal before halftime.
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The Raiders should be pleased with what they saw out of their starting offense, and also the potential of Mendoza. They also had some teaching moments for Mendoza in the preseason.
Raiders starters move the ball
The Raiders used the starting offense in their first preseason game, and didn’t use any starters in the second game. But the first game didn’t include tight end Brock Bowers. Bowers was targeted on Cousins’ first two passes, which is probably a sign of things to come this season. Rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. got the start instead of injured Ashton Jeanty. He got five carries for 20 yards on the first series. He got three more carries for 29 yards on the second drive. Washington looked good, though it was risky to give any back that many carries with Jeanty’s status for the opener uncertain.
As he did in the first preseason game, Cousins was sharp on the first drive. He spread the ball around and looked comfortable in the offense. Cousins hit four of five passes for 45 yards and the Raiders got a field goal. Cousins stayed in for another series after that, and led another field goal drive.
Kirk Cousins played two series in the Raiders’ preseason finale. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
(Ian Maule via Getty Images)
Cousins was done after two drives. He was 8 of 11 for just 51 yards but the offense was productive. He played three possessions in the preseason and the Raiders scored points on all three of them. He wasn’t great but it was a reasonable outing, and certainly didn’t give the Raiders a second thought on their plan to start him in Week 1.
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A year after the Raiders struggled to do anything right, the offense looks like it could be much more competitive.
Fernando Mendoza gets more playing time
Mendoza came in after Cousins and immediately got hit. He rolled to his left, turned his hips and got a pass out just as he got hit. Jalen Nailor made a nice one-handed catch. Then came the interception, which was a forced pass that was an unnecessary risk.
The second series didn’t go anywhere as Mendoza threw incomplete on second down and was sacked on third down. The Raiders went three-and-out and punted.
Mendoza did get a field-goal drive going at the end of the half, and the biggest play was a defensive pass interference that gained 26 yards. Mendoza went 5 of 9 for just 38 yards in the first half. His passer rating was 26.4. It was a stark contrast to Mendoza’s preseason debut, when he looked comfortable and made plays.
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Mendoza played into the third quarter. His first pass should have been a short, easy completion but he threw it too high and it went off his intended receiver’s hands. He calmed down after that and drove the team into field-goal range, though the field goal missed. Mendoza was done after that, as Aidan O’Connell took over late in the third quarter. Mendoza’s final line was 7 of 14 for 57 yards.
Mendoza should be fine over time. But the Raiders had a plan to let him sit and wait for a while. Mendoza provided some reasons why over the preseason.
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