Jets avoid getting dunked on by Fernando Mendoza as Raiders delay QB change

The New York Jets' 2026 season must go on despite the team losing to the previously winless Miami Dolphins at home, and they will get the chance to square off against a Las Vegas Raiders team that has lost four straight games following their 3-0 start. Jets fans may get a good look at No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza in this game.

Mendoza, who has not started a game yet and has only played in relief of Kirk Cousins, may get his first NFL start in Week 8. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said the team is "thinking about everything" after their loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and changing the quarterback to turn the No. 1 overall pick loose would certainly count as a subset of "everything."

Kubiak tried to put that quote down on Monday morning, informing everyone that Cousins will start in Week 8 and Mendoza will be the backup. However, Cousins may be on a very short leash. If he struggles, the stars are aligning for yet another Jets humiliation at the hands of Geno Smith's old team.

New York Jets may see Fernando Mendoza in Week 8 if Kirk Cousins struggles

The Jets aren't strangers to letting top picks make their proper debut against them and pulling out a win at Gang Green's expense. Baker Mayfield famously relieved Tyrod Taylor in a Thursday Night Football matchup that ended with Sam Darnold struggling and the Cleveland Browns ending their infamous losing streak by beating the Jets in primetime.

A coach in Kubiak who is trying to string wins together may not want to fully embrace leaning on the young guys, which is why Cousins is still in place.

With Cousins, who lacks the mobility to avoid pressure, the Jets' defense could have been in for a more favorable matchup. Ashton Jeanty hasn't been running the ball as well as many expected; the wide receiver room is still subpar, and Cousins is starting to sputter. Mendoza might be the short in the arm this team needed.

Fernando Mendoza could thrive against the New York Jets in Week 8 if he plays

The Jets' defense had punched well above their weight class for most of the year, but they are starting to crash back down to earth. The defensive line gets quite literally zero pressure unless David Bailey makes some noise; the secondary has some major coverage busts, and the lack of takeaways remains problematic.

Mendoza could be the spark this Raiders team needs to get back on track. Given his tremendous arm talent, accuracy in the pocket, and willingness to lean on his playmakers (read: Brock Bowers), Mendoza presents a problem for a team that let Greg Dulcich run free all game long.

Even though Bailey has been fairly productive in his rookie season and looks to be a defensive cornerstone, the Raiders may remind the Jets of the fact that being percentage points worse via a strength-of-schedule tiebreaker is the difference between having a franchise quarterback and being stuck in the mud with a veteran bridge.

For now, however, it looks the Jets will see Cousins.

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