LAS VEGAS RAIDERS rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza made his highly anticipated NFL debut late in Sunday's 45-17 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
With the game out of reach at the six-minute mark of the fourth quarter, Raiders coach Klint Kubiak gave the No. 1 pick some valuable exposure. Mendoza completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards, helping the Raiders reach the red zone before a fourth-down scramble attempt fell short of the first-down marker.
"It's a good experience," Mendoza said. "Every rookie has it at some point, so it was just that time. I was really proud of how the offense rallied even late in the game, and with undeniable effort there at the end."
Despite the somber afternoon, Mendoza showed promise, completing a 9-yard pass to tight end Ian Thomas and a 16-yard completion to wide receiver Tre Tucker. However, he took responsibility for the failed fourth-down play, saying he should have stayed in the pocket and thrown to practice squad receiver Deven Thompkins instead of scrambling.
The Raiders' offense struggled overall, rushing for just 38 yards while veteran starter Kirk Cousins was under constant pressure. Cousins completed 19 of 28 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown, posting a 106.7 passer rating despite being sacked four times. Meanwhile, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye threw for 374 yards and five total touchdowns against the Raiders' defense.
Mendoza's debut provided a glimpse of the franchise's future at quarterback.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing