Las Vegas Raiders Quarterback Debate: Cousins vs. Mendoza
Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, Kevin Wildes, and Greg Jennings reacted to recent developments in the NFL following the New York Giants’ significant win over the Houston Texans. They discussed the possibility of the Minnesota Vikings emerging as legitimate Super Bowl contenders, given their 6-0 start.
The conversation then turned to the Las Vegas Raiders, questioning whether it is time to consider benching Kirk Cousins in favor of Fernando Mendoza. The Denver Broncos’ recent performance also came under scrutiny, as the panel debated whether they have turned a corner.
Kirk Cousins led Klint Kubiak’s new regime to a promising start with a 3-0 record for the first time since 2021. However, the Raiders have since lost their last four games, including a 35-21 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. This recent skid has prompted discussions about a potential quarterback change, considering Fernando Mendoza’s status as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Cousins is playing at a very high level, and he’s got to continue to do that for us to win,”
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak asserted. Despite speculation, he confirmed Cousins will start against the 2-5 New York Jets. Cousins has registered the most passing touchdowns in the NFL this season with 16, while also ranking third in passing yards. He has maintained a solid performance, completing 62.6% of his passes and achieving a quarterback rating of 97.4.
Kubiak acknowledged Mendoza’s potential, expressing confidence in Cousins’ current performance. The plan involves Cousins executing the offense effectively, allowing Mendoza time to develop. Las Vegas hopes to bounce back against a struggling Jets team that recently gave Miami its first win of the season.
Kubiak commented on Mendoza’s future, stating:
“Fernando is going to play at some point. It’s not going to be this week.”
He remained firm in his decision to keep Cousins as the starting quarterback, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong performances. If the Raiders lose to the Jets, however, the decision might be revisited.