Fernando Mendoza made his NFL debut Sunday as the Las Vegas Raiders were routed by the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders entered the game with a 3-1 start, but fell behind early and were trailing 45-17 with 6:06 left in the fourth quarter when Mendoza was called upon to replace starter Kirk Cousins.
Mendoza, who had been serving as Cousins’ backup, completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards on his lone drive. His appearance came after the Patriots had built a large lead, and the Raiders turned it over on downs when his 3-yard run fell a yard short of a first down.
The loss marked the Raiders’ first defeat of the season and their first non-competitive game into the fourth quarter this year. New England was without starting cornerback Christian Gonzalez and three other cornerbacks, yet still dominated the contest.
Raiders offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was scheduled to address the media after the game. The team had hoped to bounce back from their earlier loss but instead faced a significant defeat on the road in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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