# Raiders have three weeks to keep giving Fernando Mendoza reason to wait

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/raiders-have-three-weeks-to-keep-giving-fernando-mendoza-reason-to-wait/
- Published: 2026-11-08T13:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T13:26:34+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/08/sports/raiders-playoff-push-next-three-weeks-fernando-mendoza/
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Three games will test the Raiders’ playoff hopes.
- Results may determine when Mendoza starts.
- Two wins could keep Cousins in place.

## Summary

The Raiders’ next three games against the 49ers, Seahawks and Broncos will test whether their 4-4 start makes them genuine playoff contenders. The results could also shape when the team gives rookie Fernando Mendoza, the first pick in the draft, a chance to take over at quarterback.

Las Vegas has beaten teams it was expected to beat and narrowly lost to the Chiefs and Bills, but heavy defeats to the Rams and Patriots exposed defensive weaknesses, especially against the run. Two wins in the next three would leave the Raiders 6-5 and support keeping Kirk Cousins as starter; three losses would put them at 4-7 and strengthen the case for preparing Mendoza. A one-win, two-loss stretch would leave the decision less clear.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.