Late Debut in Foxborough
The Las Vegas Raiders put rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza into the game late in the fourth quarter on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. With the rain falling and the team trailing by 28 points, coach Klint Kubiak wanted to give the top pick some exposure in a game that was already out of reach. The Raiders eventually fell 45-17 to the Patriots in their second straight defeat.
Mendoza completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards during his brief appearance. He led the offense into the red zone before a fourth-down scramble fell short of the marker. Mendoza called it a good experience and praised the offense for rallying with strong effort at the end of the match.
Tough Afternoon for Las Vegas
The 45-17 loss to New England was a difficult outing for the entire Raiders squad. Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins faced heavy pressure all afternoon, getting sacked four times while the team managed only 38 rushing yards. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas defense struggled against Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who threw for 374 yards and five total touchdowns.
Despite the tough result, Mendoza showed positive signs during his limited playing time. He connected with Ian Thomas and Tre Tucker on important completions. Coach Kubiak noted that the team plan at quarterback remains unchanged with Cousins as the starter, but he was impressed by the rookie's performance.
Looking Ahead
Mendoza took responsibility for not scoring on the final possession, admitting he should have stayed in the pocket and thrown to Deven Thompkins instead of scrambling. Cousins, who finished with 243 passing yards and one touchdown, stated that the rookie played well.
Mendoza does not know when he will play next, but he plans to keep working hard and learning behind Cousins. He feels grateful to have regular-season snaps to evaluate and build upon for the future.
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