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It’s time for Raiders to give Fernando Mendoza the keys after 4 straight losses with Kirk Cousins

Nairavoice · Oct 26, 2026 · 4 min read

It’s time for Raiders to give Fernando Mendoza the keys after 4 straight losses with Kirk Cousins appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Coach Klint Kubiak’s struggling Las Vegas Raiders have lost four straight games following their 14-point home loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, giving fans, and the head coach, a lot to think about. The Raiders got injury news on running back Mike Washington Jr. heading into Week 7’s game against the Rams and watched as he played, recording 27 yards on a mostly drab day.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins was a bright spot with 295 yards and two touchdowns on the day, but fans wondered aloud if it may be time to move on to number one overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza after another Raiders game turned into a loss with time running out to salvage the season.

Cousins has now completed less than 60 percent of his passes in three of the last four games, another strike against him as Kubiak decides whether or not to give the rookie a chance to lead soon.

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With the New York Jets on deck for Week 8, now is the perfect time for Kubiak to give the keys to the car to Mendoza, who can help restore and revitalize a fanbase that is looking for something, anything to get excited about during what has felt like another wasted season lately.

Kirk Cousins’ accuracy is waning

Cousins completed 26-of-44 passes against the Rams, and that won’t get it done in the bigger games of the season. Cousins is known for his accuracy and command of whatever offense he plays for, but one of his best traits appears to be leaving him at this crucial juncture of his career with Las Vegas.

Cousins has done his best to rally the troops and fire them up with pregame speeches, but it hasn’t helped a whole lot as the Raiders still appear overmatched, listless, and ready to check out most of the time.

The Raiders have given Cousins plenty of opportunities to show he can still lead a team deep into the playoffs, but he simply isn’t getting the job done. His 295-yard, two touchdown stat line shows he can still be an effective NFL quarterback, but the mood around the Raiders is starting to go south as fans, players and coaches all appear to be waiting around for the inevitable to happen; namely, for Mendoza to finally show what he can do on the football field for the first time in extended regular season action this year.

Delaying the inevitable isn’t fair to Cousins, the Raiders’ fans, or anyone else. Mendoza should get his chance against coach Aaron Glenn’s Jets in Week 8.

Mendoza needs time to put his stamp on the team

Mendoza has an infectious personality and great leadership skills, similar to Cousins, but it’s going to take time for him to implement them on a Raiders team in desperate need of hope, and a new direction.

Kubiak talked about what the Raiders need to do after the game, but his words fell on deaf ears as fans once again began to question his decision-making. Mendoza is not any old rookie quarterback; he carries the clout and presence of a national championship winning player who lifted one of college football’s worst programs, the Indiana Hoosiers, to national championship status during his time with Curt Cignetti in Bloomington, Indiana.

Mendoza is deadly accurate, athletic, a plus runner, and a caretaker of the football who will likely be just as accurate, or perhaps even more accurate than Cousins by the time he settles in with offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko’s unit.

His ability to run when a play breaks down will add a whole new dimension to Janocko’s offense, giving fans something new to cheer about as the Raiders prepare to face the Jets in Week 8.

Raiders’ supporting cast can ease the transition

The Raiders’ supporting cast is better than it’s shown this season and Cousins is holding them back. If he can’t complete more than 60 percent of his passes with guys like Ashton Jeanty, Michael Mayer, recent injury returnee Brock Bowers, Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker at his side, it’s a sign that he is starting to lose some of the talents that have made him one of the NFL’s best QBs for years now.

It’s time for Raiders to give

The Raiders need more efficiency and more big-play potential from their offense, something that Mendoza can bring within the first few weeks as their new starting quarterback.

Cousins still has the quarterbacking chops to stay in the league as a backup, but he needs to start leading the Raiders to wins or he will be replaced. Mendoza can perform just as well as Cousins while bringing hope and joy to a franchise in dire need of both.

It’s time for Kubiak to hand the keys to his vehicle to Mendoza, or else risk losing the Raiders’ fanbase, and the season, while waiting around for something to change.

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