Fernando Mendoza, Raiders’ offense underwhelms in Raiders’ preseason finale

Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026 | 8 p.m. Las Vegas Raiders’ preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium ended in an 18‑12 loss, dropping the Raiders to 1‑2 for the exhibition schedule with both setbacks coming at home. The Raiders’ offense managed only three points over five drives. Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza completed seven of fourteen attempts for fifty‑seven yards and threw an interception, marking his second straight game with a pick. The turnover came early when Mendoza’s first of two consecutive off‑target throws aimed at seasoned receiver Jalen Nailor was deflected by Nailor’s hands and intercepted by 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune. Las Vegas’ defense kept San Francisco out of the end zone despite Bethune’s return setting the Raiders up at their own 22‑yard line. The unit held the 49ers to no touchdowns, but the offense could not capitalize either. The 49ers sealed the win with two field goals of fifty yards or more from kicker Eddie Piniero inside the final two minutes. Mendoza received little protection. On the initial play to Nailor, a defender stepped into his face, blowing past Jackson Powers‑Johnston, who is competing for the starting right‑guard spot with Caleb Rogers. Nailor managed a one‑handed, six‑yard grab on the first attempt, but on the next play Mendoza faced pressure again. Although he found a clean pocket and looked to Nailor in the middle, the receiver had to loft the ball over another rusher, and the pass sailed high over the five‑foot‑eleven Nailor. The rookie quarterback absorbed at least two sacks—one credited in part to rookie interior lineman Trey Zuhn and another to second‑year tackle Charles Grant—and faced several additional hurries. He did help move the Raiders into field‑goal range before halftime, engineering a six‑play, twenty‑six‑yard two‑minute drive that set up Matt Gay for a forty‑five‑yard straight shot. Gay’s kick joined earlier successful attempts from thirty‑seven and fifty‑three yards, but he missed a fifty‑four‑yard effort on Las Vegas’ first drive after the intermission. Roman Hemby, Mendoza’s Indiana University teammate, showed physicality with three touches for eighteen yards on the same series. After that possession, third‑string quarterback Aidan O’Connell entered the game. Any hope that Mendoza could unseat veteran free‑agent Kirk Cousins for the starting role faded after the performance. Cousins, facing a second‑string 49ers defense, went eight of eleven for fifty‑one yards to help set up Gay’s first two field goals. Rookie running back Mike Washington again stood out, gaining forty‑nine yards on eight carries before