Fastrack · Mendoza Makes First NFL Start Against Seahawks

Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, makes his first NFL start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. The Raiders traded Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings before last week's trade deadline.

244.2 yards per game allowed by Seattle, the NFL's lowest mark.
155.1 passing yards per game allowed, also tops in the league.
0-4: first-time starters' record against Mike Macdonald's teams.
A third-round pick came back from Minnesota in the Cousins trade.

Why it matters: The 4-5 Raiders are trying to stay in the playoff race with a rookie under center. Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy and a national title at Indiana.

Mendoza sat nine games behind Cousins before the trade.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak called plays for Macdonald's Super Bowl team last season.

The story so far

18 steps · since Nov 4

Nov 4–6
Nov 84:35 PMBills Beat Vikings on Monday Night Football16 sources
Nov 8–9
Nov 92:31 PMNFL Trade Deadline Passes With Rumors and Failed Pursuits17 sources
Nov 10
Nov 102:43 PMVikings Trade for Kirk Cousins From Raiders21 sources
Nov 10–11
Nov 12Chargers-Broncos Trade of Daiyan Henley Called Off10 sources
Nov 158:07 AMMendoza Makes First NFL Start Against SeahawksYou are here
Nov 154:01 PMCousins Throws Two TDs as Vikings Beat Packers9 sourcesLatest

How 6 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

Low

Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 6 sources

6 sources · 21 articles · 50% Center coverage

Where they split: Coverage divides on whether facing Seattle's defense so early hurts Mendoza or helps his development.

Center coverage, 3 sources: The center frames the start as a hard debut, leaning on Alex Smith's call for patience and the arrival of a new era.

Heavy2hWhy is Jaxon Smith-Njigba Quiet? Is He Playing V.s. Raiders?USA Today2hFernando Mendoza starts first NFL game with a bang, leads Raiders on opening TD drive Newsweek1hFernando Mendoza Scores His First NFL Touchdown

Left1 source

Cleveland.com5hWatch Seahawks vs. Raiders streaming free today: Fernando Mendoza first career start

Right coverage, 2 sources: The right splits between a sobering welcome and the view that a tough first test will speed Mendoza's growth.

New York Post44mFernando Mendoza’s mom gets emotional cheering him on at Raiders game amid MS diagnosis Daily Mail2hFernando Mendoza scores touchdown just minutes into his NFL debut as rookie sparks wild celebrations in Las Vegas

What’s next: After Seattle, the Raiders visit Denver on Nov. 22, another strong defense.

Quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan said Mendoza's command of the offense has improved consistently in practice.
Will Kubiak's game plan let Mendoza take downfield throws, or keep him to short passes?
Did practice performance or the trade offer drive the timing of Mendoza's start?