How Fernando Mendoza Fared in His NFL Debut Against Patriots
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak put Mendoza in the game late in the second half.
Fernando Mendoza made his NFL debut with the Las Vegas Raiders against the New England Patriots on Sunday. The rookie quarterback came in late in the second half, with just over six minutes left on the clock, as the Raiders were down 45-17. Mendoza's debut was brief, lasting only four minutes and one play.
On his first play, Mendoza handed the ball off to running back Dylan Laube, who gained three yards. He then threw a two-yard pass to Laube, and a nine-yard pass to tight end Ian Thomas on third down. Mendoza completed a 16-yard pass to receiver Tre Tucker, and a six-yard pass to Malik Benson on the next play. However, Mendoza threw an incomplete pass on third down.
With nothing to lose, the Raiders attempted a fourth-down run, which Mendoza completed for three yards. Unfortunately, he came up just short. Mendoza completed 6-of-8 passes, for a total of 48 yards in his NFL debut. Despite the brief nature of his outing, it was a promising start for the rookie quarterback.
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