Raiders' Fernando Mendoza makes NFL debut late in loss to Pats - ESPN

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fernando Mendoza's highly anticipated NFL debut didn't come at the prettiest time. The Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback trotted onto the soggy field at Gillette Stadium in the rain while his team trailed by 28 points late in the fourth quarter.

With the game out of reach at the six-minute mark Sunday, Raiders coach Klint Kubiak wanted to give the No. 1 pick exposure. Mendoza made the most of his opportunity, completing 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards. He helped the Raiders reach the red zone, but they couldn't put points on the board because Mendoza's scramble attempt was short of the first-down marker on fourth and short.

«It's a good experience,» Mendoza said. «Every rookie has it at some point, so it was just that time. I was really proud of how the offense rallied even late in the game, and with undeniable effort there at the end.»

The Raiders' 45-17 loss to the Patriots was anything but memorable. In their second straight defeat, the offense couldn't get anything going, rushing for just 38 yards, while veteran starting quarterback Kirk Cousins was under duress from beginning to end.

On top of that, Las Vegas' defense was picked apart by Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, allowing the MVP runner-up from last season to record 374 passing yards and five total touchdowns.

But the somber afternoon offered another glimpse of Mendoza — the future of the quarterback position in Las Vegas. Though Kubiak said the team's plan at quarterback remains unchanged, the first-time head coach was impressed by Cousins' understudy in his short time on the field.

«He did a good job,» Kubiak said.

When Mendoza played in his first game of the preseason, he expressed how the NFL's speed caught him by surprise. With more