It took until Week 5, but the 2026 No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, finally made his NFL debut. Entering the game against the New England Patriots with the Las Vegas Raiders down 45-17 in the fourth quarter, Mendoza replaced Kirk Cousins, marking a significant moment in his rookie season.

Kirk Cousins had a solid outing, completing 19-of-28 passes for 243 yards and one touchdown before Mendoza took the field with just over six minutes remaining. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner started strong, going 5-for-5 on his opening attempts, which included a 16-yard pass on the Raiders' final drive.

Mendoza faced a challenging situation as he attempted to rally the team. He threw his first incompletion on 1st-and-10 at the Patriots' 20-yard line, followed by a 6-yard pass that set up a crucial 3rd-and-4 on the New England 14-yard line. An incomplete pass led to a fourth down, and with nothing to lose, the Raiders opted to go for it. Mendoza scrambled but fell just short of the line to gain, leading to a turnover on downs, allowing the Patriots to run out the clock.

His final stat line read 6-of-8 for 48 yards, with no touchdowns, interceptions, or sacks taken. Mendoza began the season as Cousins' backup and became the first No. 1 overall selected quarterback not to start Week 1 since Baker Mayfield in 2018.

As for the game, the Patriots improved to 3-2 with the victory, extending their win streak to two games. The Raiders, who were among the last undefeated teams, now sit at 3-2, having lost consecutive games. Looking ahead, the Raiders face another tough matchup next week against the Buffalo Bills.