A Debut of Two Halves
Mendoza entered at the 3:39 mark of the first quarter with a tough act to follow. Veteran Kirk Cousins had opened the game with a near-flawless scoring drive, completing 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards and a 13-yard touchdown to tight end Michael Mayer.
The rookie's first series did not go as smoothly. Two incompletions, a punt, and by his own admission, too much adrenaline. Mendoza said the excitement made him anxious in the pocket, and he credited his teammates for calming him down afterward.
Then he flipped the script.
The Drive That Made History
On his second series, Mendoza zipped a 19-yard completion between Arizona's linebackers and safeties to fellow rookie Malik Benson. A 53-yard burst from rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. moved the Raiders to the doorstep, and Mendoza finished the job with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jack Bech, tying the game at 14 with 3:16 left in the second quarter.
"[I] look at the next play as a new opportunity because that's the only one that matters, and that's how you bounce back from adversity," Mendoza said.
His third drive stalled in a three-and-out. His fourth and final series was his cleanest, four completions for 44 yards to reach field goal range. Kicker Kansei Matsuzawa missed the 38-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter.
"An Ascending Player"
Coach Klint Kubiak liked what he saw.
"I see an ascending player," Kubiak said Thursday night. "We just got to keep getting better."
Benson, on the receiving end of Mendoza's best throw of the night, praised the rookie's command. "I just love his operation," he said. "The clear communication, the huddle. He's very confident. But obviously, there's a lot of work that all of us as a team [have] to do."
Mendoza himself was the harshest critic in the building. He picked apart his misthrows and misreads, saying his timing and anticipation need work.
"It showed me that I need to grow a lot," he said. "I'm definitely [watching the game film] after this. I have nothing else to do tonight."
Cousins Still Holds the Job
A historic debut does not change the depth chart. Kubiak reaffirmed that Cousins remains the man to start Week 1.
"It's his job to lose," the coach said.
The Little Things That Surprised Him
Two things caught Mendoza off guard in his first NFL game. The first was expected: defenders are much faster than in college. The second was not: he had to drive himself to the stadium.
"That was the first time I've ever done that because usually college, you just hop on the bus," Mendoza said. "It's very regimented, so there's a lot more autonomy that you get as an NFL player, a lot more flexibility, and I think that's going to be beneficial in the future."
What Comes Next
Mendoza has game film to study, by his own choice, tonight. The Raiders have two more preseason games to keep developing their franchise quarterback while Cousins prepares to start the season. If Thursday was any indication, the timeline for the handoff may be the most interesting story in Las Vegas this fall.
FAQ
How did Fernando Mendoza play in his Raiders debut?
He completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown across four drives in a 27-14 preseason loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
What record did Mendoza set?
He became the first No. 1 overall pick to throw a touchdown pass in his preseason debut since Baker Mayfield in 2018.
Who threw Mendoza's touchdown pass to?
Wide receiver Jack Bech, a 6-yard score that tied the game at 14 late in the second quarter.
Will Mendoza start Week 1 for the Raiders?
Coach Klint Kubiak says veteran Kirk Cousins remains the starter: "It's his job to lose."
What surprised Mendoza about his first NFL game?
The speed of NFL defenders compared to college, and having to drive himself to the stadium instead of taking a team bus.
