What happened: Analysts Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman noted via NFL on FOX that the inflection point for starting Fernando Mendoza, whom the Raiders kept off the opening-day lineup, arrives once long-term development outweighs immediate results. Las Vegas elected to keep Kirk Cousins as its starting quarterback this week despite falling 35-21 to the Rams.

Why it matters: The setback against the Rams extended the Raiders' losing streak to four games during the 2026 regular season, increasing pressure on Kubiak as the coaching staff evaluates a quarterback change. Because Las Vegas signed Mendoza on July 23 as the draft's top selection, every additional defeat narrows the window for sitting the rookie behind Cousins.

What to watch: Weekly practice reps and the upcoming game-day depth chart will indicate when the Raiders are ready to hand Mendoza his first regular-season start.