Raiders’ unexpected 3-0 start: Will Las Vegas see Fernando Mendoza at all this season?

Sports Kirk Cousins has actually warded off the No. 1 general choice through 3 weeks

The Las Vegas Raiders have actually been among the early-season surprises through the very first 3 weeks, leaping out to an ideal 3-0 record. That consists of a 35-27 win over the Saints in New Orleans, where they scored 19 unanswered points in the 2nd half to manage the return. Currently, they’ve matched their win overall from last season’s 3-14 project and have actually made some history at the same time.

They are simply the junior varsity in NFL history to begin 3-0 after successive 13-plus loss seasons, signing up with the 1980 San Francisco 49ers. They are likewise simply the 3rd group in the previous 20 years to begin 3-0 after winning 3 or less video games the previous year (2006 Saints and 2013 Chiefs).

For our discussion here, we’ll mention that Las Vegas is the 4th group in the Common Draft Era to begin 3-0 after preparing very first general the previous spring. Lost in the shuffle of this outstanding start to 2026 is the greatest concern that towered above the company– and still does– when they initially started it:

When will we see Fernando Mendoza take control of as QB1?

The Raiders chose Mendoza with the No. 1 total choice at the 2026 NFL Draft after the Heisman Trophy winner created among the best seasons in college football history, leading the Indiana Hoosiers to an ideal season and a championship game. He is the undisputed future in Las Vegas, however this 3-0 start does appear to kick the ultimate ascension down the roadway, a minimum of for a short time.

Sports Kirk Cousins has actually been lights out

The most significant reason that there hasn’t been a clamoring for Mendoza to enter the huge seat is that Kirk Cousins has actually been on fire. Coming out of Sunday’s Week 3 action, Cousins is connected for the most passing goals (9) amongst certified quarterbacks (minutes. 50 pass efforts). He’s likewise 8th in the NFL in passer ranking (107.2) and EPA per dropback (0.18 ).

Cousins signed up with Tom Brady (2015 and 2021) as the only gamers in NFL history age 38 or older to have at least 9 passing goals through the very first 3 video games of the season. He likewise connected a Raiders franchise record for the most successive video games with 3 or more passing goals (3). And he did the majority of that without his go-to pass-catching choice in tight end Brock Bowers, who made his season launching in Week 3 and captured 10 of his 13 targets.

Even if the Raiders discovered a method to still be 3-0, had Cousins coped these very first 3 weeks, there would be a groundswell to raise Mendoza. Since he’s basically been a top-10 quarterback in the NFL, Cousins has actually silenced that talk and got rid of any pressure on first-year head coach Klint Kubiak to make a relocation under center.

Sports Upcoming schedule might rapidly alter the narrative

The Raiders could not have actually requested for a much better start to the season, however things can alter in an immediate in the NFL.

While they ought to get credit for beginning the year 3-0 (particularly that win over the Saints on Sunday), their opening slate hasn’t precisely been a killer’s row of top-tier NFL skill. The Dolphins, who they comfortably beat in Week 1, may wind up being the worst group in the NFL when the dust decides on the 2026 season. In Week 2, they took down a Chargers group that is 0-3 and among the most significant dissatisfactions of the yearEven New Orleans is young, with a quarterback in his very first season as the full-time starter, and he turned the ball over on his last 3 belongings in Week 3.

Once again, credit to the Raiders for making the most of those chances put in front of them, however the roadway ahead is a bit harder. That begins with a home match versus the 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs, who are presently roadway favorites over Las Vegas.

Here’s a take a look at the Raiders’ next 8 video games:

• Week 4: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
• Week 5: at New England Patriots
• Week 6: vs. Buffalo Bills
• Week 7: vs. Los Angeles Rams
• Week 8: at New York Jets
• Week 9: at San Francisco 49ers
• Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks
• Week 11: at Denver Broncos

Las Vegas’ matches versus the Patriots (Week 5) and Jets (Week 8) are its most winnable video games over this stretch, however both are on the roadway. Even if you provide the Raiders wins in those areas, they likely will not be preferred in any of those staying matches, possibly establishing a 2-6 skid. That ‘d bring them to 5-6 before taking a trip to Cleveland to deal with the Brownsin Week 12, before a bye.

If they are going into that bye week at.500 on the year (or even worse), there will be chatter to generate Mendoza if they have not currently.

Sports Determining pockets where Mendoza might debut

Dismissing a possible injury to Cousins that would thrust Mendoza into the beginning function, I do believe this hot start might purchase the veteran some freedom to keep the task for the foreseeable future.

That stated, the earliest a modification might make good sense would be that Week 8 match at the New York JetsIf the bottom falls out from under the Raiders and they drop their next 4 video games and fall under.500, the tone of the season modifications and Kubiak might aim to the leading choice versus the Jets to turn the tide.

After that, the Week 14 home match versus the Los Angeles Chargerscoming out of the bye week would be another window for Mendoza to increase to QB1. If the Raiders fall out of contention by that point and/or Cousins has actually fallen off, it ‘d be a good idea to pivot to the young quarterback to get him reps.

If Las Vegas is still contending for playoff positioning, nevertheless, and wishes to keep riding with Cousins, rubber might fulfill the roadway in Week 15 when they host the Denver Broncos. That video game might effectively identify playoff placing if things stay as they stand. If the Raiders fall on the incorrect side of that match, offering Mendoza the last 3 starts starting with a home match versus the Tennessee Titans in Week 16 would be the sensible relocation. At that point, the focus shifts from competing to developing for 2027, with Mendoza as the focal point.

Sports Is it okay if Mendoza does not play in 2026?

The brief response is yes. It’s absolutely great if Mendoza hardly sees the field over his novice season. While groups have actually mostly played their first-round quarterbacks from the outset, there are lots of methods to skin a feline. Kubiak has actually spoken at length about taking a sluggish method when establishing a young quarterback, and we’ve seen that operate in the past. Most especially, Patrick Mahomes played simply one video game as a novice, beginning the regular-season ending versus the Broncos throughout the 2017 project. Before that, he sat behind Alex Smith. I believe Mahomes ended up simply fine. Obviously, that does not indicate that Mendoza is allocated for the exact same profession trajectory, however it’s simply an example of a gamer ending up being a star in spite of not seeing the field much as a novice.