TC Martin

Raiders Close Out Preseason with Loss

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The Las Vegas Raiders closed the preseason schedule with some positives and negatives.  The end result of a loss doesn't really matter in games in August as the Silver and Black fell to the San Francisco 49ers 18-12 in a battle of kickers Thursday night at Allegiant Stadium. 

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The game comprised of 10 field goals, six by the 49ers and four for the Raiders as neither team scored a touchdown.  The failure to get into the end zone was because both offenses were anemic especially in the passing game.  Each team totaled less than 300 yards of offense with backups playing nearly the entire game for both teams.  

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Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak decided to go with his starters for the first two series of the game. Kirk Cousins looked sharp connecting on eight of 11 passes but only for 51 yards.  Cousins played only three series in the preseason going 13 for 17 with one touchdown.  

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The real focus was on rookie Fernando Mendoza who got the bulk of the snaps at quarterback. Mendoza played four series in this contest and totaled 13 possessions over the three preseason games. 

 

Mendoza struggled completing only seven of 14 throws for 57 yards while throwing an interception on his first series that was returned deep into Raiders territory.  This comes one week after he threw a pick-six at Houston.  The rookie was also sacked twice against the Niners defensive backups.  

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It is clear that Cousins is the better quarterback and will get the opening day start in two weeks against Miami.  Mendoza is still learning and sitting behind the veteran Cousins is the wise thing to do.  This has been the plan of Kubiak all along although many Raiders fans want to see the Heisman Trophy winner play immediately.  

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"Mendoza needs another three preseason games, and all those rookies do," said Kubiak. "Now that the season is stating, the practice reps get smaller and that's just life.  But as coaches, we've got to get them ready to play and keep developing."

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The other concerns have shown up during the preseason.  The offensive line is a work in progress with several new faces while the defense has not stopped offenses consistently in the three exhibition games despite facing second and third stringers.  

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The Raiders will now focus on reps with their starters as they prepare for the regular season opener on September 13th versus the Dolphins.  Luckily for Las Vegas they will play at home and face a team that has as many questions as they do going into this season.