Cousins Leads Scoring Drives as Raiders Fall 18-12 to 49ers in Finale

Kirk Cousins completed 8 of 11 passes for 51 yards in the Raiders' 18-12 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

The Las Vegas Raiders concluded their preseason schedule with an 18-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday. Kirk Cousins earned his second start of the preseason, leading two offensive series that both resulted in field goals converted by kicker Matt Gay. During his time on the field, Cousins completed 8 of 11 pass attempts for 51 yards, finishing the night with an 82.0 passer rating. This performance followed his preseason debut against the Arizona Cardinals, where he threw a touchdown pass. Across his two exhibition appearances, the veteran signal-caller went 13-of-17 for 101 yards.

Following the six-point defeat, head coach Klint Kubiak declined to officially name a starter for the regular-season opener against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13. Kubiak noted that the staff needs to review film and discuss various positions before making a public announcement. The first-time head coach emphasized that the team does not currently need to designate a primary passer. Despite the lack of an official title, Cousins operated exclusively with the projected starting unit during Thursday's contest after being held out of the previous road game against the Houston Texans.

Mendoza Struggles Under Pressure

Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, entered the game with 56 seconds remaining in the first quarter. His night was marked by significant duress, as the San Francisco defense recorded two sacks and six pressures against the rookie. Mendoza finished the game completing 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards, resulting in a 31.0 passer rating. On his second play from scrimmage, a pass intended for wide receiver Jalen Nailor was intercepted by linebacker Tatum Bethune after the ball deflected off Nailor’s hands.

This turnover represented Mendoza's second interception of the preseason. Kubiak commented that Nailor should have secured the catch, while also suggesting that rookies like Mendoza would benefit from additional preseason games to aid their development. The coach acknowledged that practice repetitions will decrease as the regular season begins, placing the responsibility on the coaching staff to keep young players ready for game action. Mendoza characterized the experience against the 49ers' pass rush as a learning opportunity, stating that "pressure makes diamonds" and asserting his improvement since the start of training camp.

Quarterback Utilization and Week 1 Outlook

Cousins expressed a methodical approach to the ongoing Raiders quarterback competition, stating that he intends to go about his business daily and let the decision fall where it may. He noted that depth chart designations can change quickly and that the final choice rests with Kubiak. The veteran's efficiency in the finale stood in contrast to the offensive struggles faced by the second unit under Mendoza.

The Raiders' upcoming schedule features a trip to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. While the coaching staff remains non-committal, the distribution of snaps on Thursday heavily favored the veteran. Cousins played two full drives with the first-team offense, while Mendoza worked primarily with backups after his initial entry late in the first period. The team now enters a period of evaluation as they transition from the 18-12 preseason closing score toward the start of the 2026 NFL regular season.