Fernando Mendoza uneven in Raiders preseasons start: Instant analysis, grades

Fernando Mendoza pro debut came and went without any issues in Week 1 of the NFL preseason. On Aug. 20, the Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback was afforded the opportunity for an encore performance in preseason Week 2.

The No. 1 overall pick’s second game for the silver-and-black is now in the history books, meaning the reviews are starting to trickle in. How did he play? Do the Raiders have a quarterback competition brewing that they aren’t aware of?

In a sentence: Welcome to the NFL, rook.

Those questions are natural in a world where instant gratification is the norm, especially after Vegas invested the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in Mendoza. Excitement for the future runs high this time of year and it’s hard to blame anyone for that. The rookie class that was once considered underwhelming in April is now shining bright in August.

Kirk Cousins might have the Raiders QB1 spot for now, but did Mendoza do anything to close that gap against the Texans in Houston?

How did Mendoza fare in his second NFL preseason game? Here’s a breakdown of the rookie’s performance.

When it comes to fan avidity, Bills Mafia reigns supreme. On the other hand, fans of the New York Jets and New York Giants have some work to do. According to the inaugural “Nielsen Scarborough NFL Fandom Index” from media audience research firm Nielsen, the Buffalo Bills have the best fandom in the league. Bills fans scored 208 on the new index, which takes into account eight key metrics, Nielsen announced in a press release. The key metrics, all from Nielsen’s own data are apparel purchases, event attendance, streaming, social media following, TV viewership, radio listening, betting intent, and overall interest level. The firm noted that fanbases in Philadelphia and Cincinnati both ranked in the top five across several categories, which pushed Eagles and Bengals fans near the top of the index despite “neither lead[ing] a single metric outright.”
New York 30

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When it comes to fan avidity, Bills Mafia reigns supreme. On the other hand, fans of the New York Jets and New York Giants have some work to do. According to the inaugural “Nielsen Scarborough NFL Fandom Index” from media audience research firm Nielsen, the Buffalo Bills have the best fandom in the league. Bills fans scored 208 on the new index, which takes into account eight key metrics, Nielsen announced in a press release. The key metrics, all from Nielsen’s own data are apparel purchases, event attendance, streaming, social media following, TV viewership, radio listening, betting intent, and overall interest level. The firm noted that fanbases in Philadelphia and Cincinnati both ranked in the top five across several categories, which pushed Eagles and Bengals fans near the top of the index despite “neither lead[ing] a single metric outright.”
New York 30

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San Francisco/ Oakland / San Jose 27

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preseason Week 2 grade

Mendoza lived a charmed life at Indiana last season in college football. That won’t be the case in the NFL, even against backups.

The headline is the pick-six, which he tossed to Wade Woodaz on Vegas’ opening drive. Mendoza was drifting to his left and worked back over the middle of the field, allowing Woodaz to step in for the easy interception.

And 80 yards later, the Texans were celebrating the gifted touchdown. Being late is never good. Being late over the middle is even worse.

Luckily for Mendoza, that is a throw he’ll learn from as he finds that the closing speed is at another level in the pros.

Mendoza worked under center multiple times, something he never did in college. From a footwork perspective, he passed that test. With his arm, the rookie showed some zip on the ball, evidenced by an early completion to Jalen Nailor for 22 yards on a second-and-long.

Yet that was one of the rare occasions when he had help from the team around him. The protection up front didn’t hold throughout the first half, resulting in the rookie taking a few hits – like this big one from the rookie, Kayden McDonald.

Mendoza’s stat line would’ve looked a lot better if Malik Benson didn’t register two key drops that turned a pair of first downs into a pair of punts. If Benson hangs onto the ball, the narrative is about Mendoza’s ability to overcome adversity.

Fair or not, the prevailing line of thinking because of those drops is that Mendoza stunk it up on Thursday night. Mix in the interception and you have the “bust” label being thrown around. However, it’s important to remember that this is just his second preseason contest and if there was ever a time for mistakes – it’s now.

All in all, Mendoza was fine. He didn’t secure a gold jacket on Thursday night, but he also didn’t ensure he’ll be out of the league by this time next year. He has led the Raiders to just two scoring drives during his preseason action, a sign that he isn’t ready to lead this Raiders team yet.

• Completions/Attempts (%): 8/15 (53.3%)

• Passing yards: 86

• Passing touchdowns: 0

• Interceptions: 1

• Passer rating: 42.6

• Rushing yards: 0

• Sacks: 1

Completions/Attempts (%): 8/15 (53.3%)