Key Highlights
- Kirk Cousins returns to the Minnesota Vikings after the trade deadline, joining a 6-2 team with an elite defense.
- Fernando Mendoza is set to make his first official NFL start for the Las Vegas Raiders against the Seattle Seahawks.
- Mendoza will face another difficult test in Week 2 of his starting tenure when Las Vegas travels to play the Denver Broncos.
Kirk Cousins Returns to Minnesota With Vikings Targeting NFC Contention
The Minnesota Vikings are 6-2 and now have a major opportunity to establish themselves as legitimate NFC championship contenders after acquiring quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders at the trade deadline. Cousins returns to Minnesota playing at an elite level, having led the 4-5 Raiders while ranking fifth in the NFL in passing yards and second with 20 touchdown passes.
Cousins joins a Minnesota roster considerably stronger than the one he left. The Vikings are supported by one of the NFL’s top-tier defenses, reducing the pressure on Cousins to carry the team on his own. That balance could be especially important as Minnesota enters a demanding road stretch against the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers.
The upcoming schedule will require Cousins to reproduce the form he showed during his prime Minnesota years. Across his six-season tenure with the Vikings, Cousins exceeded 4,200 passing yards four times and threw more than 30 touchdown passes in three different seasons. His familiarity with the organization and the offense also gives Minnesota an experienced quarterback as it pursues a deeper postseason run.
Fernando Mendoza Takes Over as Raiders Starting Quarterback
With Cousins departing for Minnesota, the Fernando Mendoza era has officially begun for the Las Vegas Raiders. Mendoza, the 2026 first overall pick, is scheduled to make his first official NFL start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle was the former team of Raiders rookie head coach Klint Kubiak and has one of the league’s most formidable defensive units.
Mendoza previously appeared briefly in garbage time during Las Vegas’ Week 5 blowout loss to the New England Patriots. After spending months learning the offense behind Cousins, the former California star has now been handed control of the Raiders offense. Las Vegas is hoping Mendoza can help revive a franchise that has recorded only two winning seasons since losing Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002.
The rookie quarterback inherits a difficult situation. The Raiders lack proven perimeter weapons beyond standout tight end Brock Bowers, while the rushing attack has struggled and the defense has performed at a middling level. Mendoza’s first start against Seattle therefore places immediate responsibility on a young quarterback entering an offense with limited established support.
Mendoza Joins Rare Group of No. 1 Overall Quarterbacks
Because he waited until mid-November to make his first start, Mendoza becomes only the ninth quarterback selected No. 1 overall since 2000 to begin his first career start after Week 1. Of the 29 quarterbacks chosen first overall during that period, 20 started in Week 1 of their rookie seasons.
Only Carson Palmer, selected in 2003, spent his entire rookie season on the bench. Mendoza’s delayed starting timeline most closely resembles Eli Manning in 2004 and Jared Goff in 2016, both of whom made their first starts in Week 10. Former Raiders No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell did not start until Week 16 in 2007, while Baker Mayfield took over in Week 4 in 2018 and led the Cleveland Browns to a victory over the New York Jets.
Why This Matters
The Vikings’ decision to acquire Kirk Cousins gives a 6-2 team an experienced quarterback for a difficult stretch against the Packers and 49ers, while Cousins gains the support of a stronger overall roster and an elite defense. The outcome of those road games will help show whether Minnesota can convert its strong start into a serious NFC championship challenge.
For the Raiders, the move immediately shifts the franchise toward evaluating Fernando Mendoza as its long-term quarterback. His first two tests are unusually demanding: Seattle’s formidable defense at home, followed by a road game against a fierce Denver Broncos defense. Those matchups will provide an early measure of how prepared Mendoza is to lead Las Vegas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Vikings acquire Kirk Cousins?
Minnesota acquired Cousins to add an experienced quarterback to its 6-2 roster. Cousins was playing at an elite level with the Raiders, ranking fifth in NFL passing yards and second with 20 touchdown passes.
When will Fernando Mendoza make his first NFL start?
Mendoza is set to make his first official NFL start for the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
Who will the Raiders face after Seattle?
After facing Seattle, Mendoza and the Raiders will travel to Denver to play the Broncos, whose defense presents another difficult challenge for the rookie quarterback.
