The Las Vegas Raiders found a way to win Thursday night, but their 22-20 preseason comeback against the Houston Texans was not led by the quarterback most fans were watching.
Rookie Fernando Mendoza received the start with veteran Kirk Cousins resting and played the entire first half. The No. 1 overall pick finished 8-of-15 for 86 yards with one interception, took a sack and led Las Vegas to only three points across five possessions.
Houston turned Mendoza’s biggest mistake into the defining play of the first half. On the Raiders’ opening possession, Mendoza overthrew his intended receiver and Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz intercepted the pass. Woodaz returned it 80 yards for a touchdown, giving Houston an early 14-0 advantage.
Mendoza tried to chase down the play but was pushed aside near the 15-yard line as Woodaz completed the return.
It was an unforgiving reminder of how quickly one mistake can change an NFL game.
“I came away with there’s a lot more learning to do,” Mendoza said afterward. “Although maybe you may have had a lot of success at another level, this level is a whole step further and the margins are so small, and that one tiny mistake can lead to catastrophe.”
That assessment was honest. Mendoza was coming off a more encouraging preseason debut against Arizona, when he completed 11 of 14 passes for 123 yards and connected with Jack Bech for a touchdown. His second appearance looked much more like the uneven night expected from a rookie adjusting to NFL speed, pressure and tighter throwing windows.
Fernando Mendoza Struggled, but the Raiders Did Not Abandon Him
Mendoza’s first-half numbers do not tell the entire story.
He made several quality throws, including a 22-yard completion to Jalen Nailor and an 18-yard third-down conversion to Malik Benson. At one point, he completed six consecutive passes. He also spent much of the half working behind a reserve offensive line while facing Houston’s second-team defense.
Still, the offense never established a consistent rhythm. Mendoza absorbed multiple hits, was sacked once and could not lead a touchdown drive. Matt Gay’s 52-yard field goal accounted for Las Vegas’ only first-half points.
The Raiders entered halftime trailing 20-3.
Head coach Klint Kubiak did not place the entire performance on his rookie quarterback.
“I think there’s plenty to clean up, plenty to get better at,” Kubiak said. “Plenty that we can do better for him as coaches. Plenty that he can learn from.”
That measured response matters. Mendoza was the first overall pick because the Raiders believe he can become their long-term answer at quarterback, not because they expect a finished product during his second NFL preseason appearance.
A difficult half does not erase the traits that made Mendoza a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion at Indiana. It does, however, reinforce why Las Vegas brought in Cousins and does not need to rush the rookie into the starting lineup.
Aidan O’Connell Leads the Raiders’ Comeback
The Raiders’ comeback belonged to Aidan O’Connell and a group of reserves who continued competing after Las Vegas fell behind by 17 points.
Dylan Laube’s four-yard touchdown run cut the deficit to 20-10 late in the third quarter. Dare Ogunbowale then scored on a 19-yard run with less than eight minutes remaining, pulling Las Vegas within four after Kansei Matsuzawa missed the extra point.
O’Connell saved his best work for the final possession.
Taking over at the Raiders’ 4-yard line with less than two minutes remaining, O’Connell guided the offense down the field and connected with Brandon Johnson for a 33-yard gain that placed Las Vegas near the goal line. O’Connell completed the 96-yard drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak, giving the Raiders a 22-20 lead with 14 seconds remaining.
Safety Devin Lafayette intercepted Brett Rypien on Houston’s final possession to secure the victory.
O’Connell completed 15 of 24 passes for 166 yards. He did not throw a touchdown, but he protected the football and delivered when Las Vegas needed him most.
The Raiders finished with 400 total yards compared with Houston’s 219. Las Vegas also scored 19 unanswered points after trailing 20-3.
What Mendoza’s Performance Means for the Raiders
The result should not be framed as a comeback authored by Mendoza. He was already out of the game when the Raiders began closing the gap.
What Mendoza did receive was an important NFL lesson without the loss attached to it.
His interception demonstrated the consequences of poor ball placement. His better completions showed why the Raiders remain invested in his development. His postgame comments suggested that he understands both sides of the performance.
Cousins remains the expected Week 1 starter, although Kubiak has not formally announced the decision. After Thursday’s game, the coach said he does not want anyone becoming comfortable in his position while another week of preseason competition remains.
That does not necessarily mean Mendoza lost a starting job in Houston. It means the rookie still has considerable ground to cover before the Raiders can reasonably hand him control of the offense.
One rough preseason half should not become a referendum on Mendoza’s future. It should be treated for what it was: an early test against NFL defenders who punished a mistake and forced him to operate under pressure.
The Raiders will host the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, August 27, for their final preseason game. Mendoza’s response will matter more than the interception itself.
Las Vegas left Houston with a win. O’Connell earned the comeback. Mendoza left with film he will need to learn from.
For a franchise attempting to develop its quarterback of the future without sacrificing the present, all three parts of that story matter.
Reporting was verified against the Raiders’ official game coverage, NFL.com and the Associated Press game recap.
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