The Las Vegas Raiders have stormed out to an unexpected 3-0 start behind veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, temporarily shelving immediate plans for No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. However, a grueling upcoming schedule could soon reignite questions regarding when the Heisman Trophy winner will take the reins.
The Las Vegas Raiders have captured the attention of the entire NFL landscape with a stunning, unblemished 3-0 start to the 2026 campaign. In doing so, they have etched their name into the league's history books as just the second team ever to start 3-0 following consecutive seasons featuring 13 or more losses, a feat previously accomplished only by the 1980 San Francisco 49ers. Furthermore, the Silver and Black sit as just the third franchise in the past two decades to open a year with three straight victories after securing three or fewer wins the prior season, joining the 2006 New Orleans Saints and the 2013 Kansas City Chiefs.
Adding further historical context to their ascent, Las Vegas stands as the fourth team in the Common Draft Era to begin 3-0 after holding the first overall selection the previous spring. Yet, amidst the euphoria of a stellar September, a fundamental storyline that dominated the offseason persists in the background. The organization's long-term future rests squarely on the shoulders of rookie phenom Fernando Mendoza, whose remarkable collegiate season with the Indiana Hoosiers culminated in a Heisman Trophy and a national championship before the Raiders made him the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The primary catalyst behind the decision to ease Mendoza into the professional ranks is the stellar, high-level play of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. Coming out of Sunday's Week 3 action, Cousins is tied for the most passing touchdowns (9) among qualified quarterbacks with a minimum of 50 pass attempts. His efficiency metrics are equally impressive, ranking eighth in the NFL in passer rating at 107.2 and posting an exceptional expected points added (EPA) per dropback of 0.18.
Cousins' scorching start places him in elite company, joining Tom Brady (who achieved the feat in 2015 and 2021) as the only players aged 38 or older to toss at least nine touchdowns through the first three games of a season. Moreover, the veteran signal-caller tied a Raiders franchise record for the most consecutive games with three or more passing touchdowns, reaching three straight contests. This remarkable production has occurred largely without his primary weapon, star tight end Brock Bowers, who made his triumphant season debut in Week 3 and immediately hauled in 10 receptions on 13 targets.
Had Cousins stumbled out of the gate, the collective clamor from the fanbase and media to accelerate Mendoza's development and insert him into the starting lineup would have reached a fever pitch. Because Cousins has operated essentially as a top-10 quarterback in the league through the first month, he has effectively neutralized those discussions and shielded first-year head coach Klint Kubiak from mounting pressure to alter his offensive hierarchy under center.
While the Raiders deserve immense credit for capitalizing on early opportunities - culminating in a hard-fought victory over the Saints on Sunday - football analysts note that their opening slate has not featured a gauntlet of elite opponents. Their Week 1 dismantling of the Miami Dolphins came against a squad that many project to finish at the bottom of the league standings. In Week 2, they defeated a Los Angeles Chargers team currently sitting at 0-3 and ranking as one of the season's primary disappointments. Meanwhile, the Saints relied on a young quarterback making his debut year as a full-time starter, who committed costly turnovers on his final three possessions.
The degree of difficulty for Las Vegas is about to increase exponentially, starting with a daunting home matchup against the 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs, where the Raiders find themselves installed as home underdogs. While subsequent road trips against the New England Patriots in Week 5 and the New York Jets in Week 8 represent winnable contests, the remainder of the schedule projects as a challenging stretch where the Silver and Black will likely struggle to command favoritism.
Should the team endure a projected 2-6 skid that brings their record back to 5-6 prior to their Week 12 matchup against the Cleveland Browns and subsequent bye week, the whispers surrounding Mendoza will inevitably return. Barring an unforeseen injury to Cousins that forces the rookie's hand, this hot start has successfully bought the veteran signal-caller considerable leeway to maintain control of the offense for the foreseeable future, with any potential transition unlikely to materialize before the autumn air cools significantly.
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