Can Kirk Cousins hold off Fernando Mendoza: Raiders explain why the 38-year-old is starting in Week 1

Kirk Cousins won the Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback competition. The harder part starts now.Head coach Klint Kubiak named the 38-year-old starter over No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza for Sunday’s opener against the Miami Dolphins. According to The Athletic’s Sam Warren, Cousins earned the job through his command, experience and ability to operate Kubiak’s offense quickly. The question is how long those strengths can outweigh what Mendoza offers physically.Why did the Raiders choose Kirk Cousins over Fernando Mendoza for Week 1?Cousins did not treat winning the starting job as the finish line.“It’s less important to me than what you do after that first snap,” Cousins said, according to The Athletic. “I think it’s all about this entire season and winning the long game, and not just about the start of the season.”The Raiders already know Mendoza represents their future. For Week 1, however, they value what Cousins can provide immediately.Kubiak pointed to Cousins’ leadership and command of the offense as two areas where the veteran improved during his first months in Las Vegas. Cousins also has years of experience in variations of the Shanahan-style system.That familiarity matters because he previously worked with Kubiak in Minnesota, first when Kubiak coached quarterbacks and later when he called plays.Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko outlined exactly what Las Vegas wants from Cousins.“Complete the football, get us into the right plays, get us out of bad plays, don’t make bad plays worse,” Janocko said. “I don’t think the blueprint has ever changed with the way we ask our quarterbacks to play.”The preseason numbers support that approach.Cousins averaged 2.32 seconds to throw, according to TruMedia. That ranked third among quarterbacks with at least 10 attempts and came well below last season’s 2.76-second league average.Mendoza averaged 2.95 seconds, which ranked 12th slowest among quarterbacks with at least 10 attempts.That difference could be important for an offense that allowed an NFL-high 64 sacks last season. Cousins’ quick decisions can reduce how long the offensive line has to protect him.His experience also showed before the snap. Against the Arizona Cardinals, Cousins recognized pressure on third-and-long and changed the protection. The adjustment gave him time to find Jack Bech for a first down.Tight end Michael Mayer expects more of the same.“He’s going to get us in the right checks,” Mayer said. “He’s going to get us in the right formations. That’s what I expect out of him. I think that’s what everybody expects out of him in this locker room.”What could push the Raiders from Kirk Cousins to Fernando Mendoza?Cousins can run the offense. The bigger question is whether he can stretch it.He averaged only 2.9 air yards per attempt during the preseason. Just one of his 17 passes traveled at least 10 yards downfield, according to The Athletic.Mendoza averaged 6.6 air yards per attempt and produced explosive plays with receivers Malik Benson and Jalen Nailor.That distinction makes or breaks the case, in Kubiak’s offense.While running Seattle’s offense in 2025, Kubiak oversaw a passing attack that recorded 57 completions of at least 20 yards. The Seahawks also tied for the NFL lead with 12 receptions of at least 40 yards. Sam Darnold averaged 7.8 air yards per attempt.Cousins once produced similar downfield numbers in Kubiak’s system. During Kubiak’s 2021 season as Minnesota’s offensive coordinator, Cousins averaged 7.7 air yards per attempt.The veteran is now 38 and several years removed from an Achilles tear. His recent interception numbers also matter. Cousins threw a career-high 16 interceptions with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, tying for the NFL lead. He added five in eight starts last season.Las Vegas does not need Cousins to become a different quarterback. It needs his command and quick processing without allowing defenses to squeeze the field.Kubiak has already said Cousins is “starting for a reason.” Mendoza does not need to change that conversation in September. Cousins has to keep it from changing.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.