Kubiak on switching to Mendoza: 'Thinking about everything' - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — Amid a four-game losing streak, Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said the team is evaluating everything, including looking toward the future by starting No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza over Kirk Cousins.

«We have to go watch the film,» Kubiak said after a 35-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. «I think at this point, we're thinking about everything to fix our problems, how to fix our issues in the red zone, in the third quarter, personnel [and] scheme. We've got to talk about all of it.»

Cousins said nothing is changing in his approach. Similar to his remarks when he signed in April, the veteran quarterback said that if he isn't the best option, he doesn't «want to be out there, either.»

«I want the football team to have the best chance to win games,» Cousins said. "[During] the first OTA [practice], if that had become apparent, I would've been the first one to say, 'Yeah, you can't play me.'"

Cousins overcame a shaky first-half performance against the Rams and finished with 295 passing yards and two touchdowns. He had a 59.1% completion rate and a passer rating of 94.4. Los Angeles blitzed Cousins on 29.2% of his dropbacks, and he was sacked twice and pressured 19 times.

Through seven games, Cousins has thrown for 1,877 yards, a league-leading 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has thrown seven TDs in the past four games after nine in the first three.

Kubiak has been supportive of Cousins, with whom he has had a strong relationship since their time together with the Minnesota Vikings. Kubiak said after the Raiders' loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6 that Cousins has played «superb» football.

Cousins, however, has understood the reality of his situation since the team drafted Mendoza with the first pick