Raiders sticking with Kirk Cousins until the wheels fall off, NFL analyst says

The Las Vegas Raiders may have the No. 1 overall pick of the NFL Draft waiting in the wings, but Kirk Cousins is giving the franchise a compelling reason to keep the rookie on the sideline. After enduring a four-game losing streak and facing growing calls to turn the offense over to Fernando Mendoza , the Raiders responded with a 38-33 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.

Cousins delivered the kind of performance Las Vegas needed, helping ease the pressure on head coach Klint Kubiak and strengthening the case for keeping the veteran under center . Jeremy Bergman, senior editor of digital news at NFL.com , wrote that the win reinforced a straightforward conclusion: this remains Cousins' offense until the wheels come off.

The Raiders' decision to stay with Cousins was already drawing attention earlier in the week, when Kubiak publicly reaffirmed the veteran as his starting quarterback despite the team's four-game skid. With Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in the draft, waiting for an opportunity, the pressure to make a change was understandable. But Cousins gave his coach a strong response on the field.

Cousins and the offense found another gear

He completed 19 of 26 passes for 247 yards without throwing an interception, operating efficiently despite an offense that relied on just four pass catchers: two tight ends, a running back and a wide receiver. His numbers were not spectacular by themselves, but his command of the offense and ability to protect the football proved valuable in a game in which the Raiders needed their offense to compensate for defensive shortcomings.

Las Vegas scored only once in the first half, leaving the door open for the Jets to remain in contention. After halftime, however, Cousins and the offense found another gear. The Raiders scored touchdowns on three consecutive drives, turning a competitive afternoon into a game they were positioned to control.

Cousins then helped Las Vegas close out the contest with a clock-draining fourth-quarter possession that ended in a field goal. The sequence was significant beyond the points it produced: the Raiders managed the closing minutes, kept the ball away from New York and secured a win that had eluded them during their four-game slide.

That performance made it more difficult to argue that the Raiders should immediately hand the offense to Mendoza simply because he represents the team's future.

Why the Raiders may keep Mendoza on the bench

Mendoza's presence creates an obvious storyline. As the No. 1 overall pick, he is the quarterback fans want to see, particularly when a team struggles and the incumbent starter is unable to generate wins. But the Raiders' victory illustrated why a change is not necessarily the right move at this point.

Cousins offered stability at a moment when Las Vegas badly needed it. He distributed the ball, avoided costly mistakes and helped produce a decisive second-half surge. For a team still trying to establish consistency, those qualities matter more than the temptation to accelerate a rookie's development for the sake of seeing what he can do.

Bergman's assessment reflects that distinction. Mendoza may eventually become the centerpiece of the Raiders' offense , but Cousins has earned the opportunity to keep the job as long as he continues to deliver results. A promising rookie does not automatically make the veteran expendable, particularly when the team believes the young quarterback can benefit from learning before being thrown into the starting role.

That does not mean Mendoza's wait is guaranteed to last all season. A prolonged losing stretch, a significant decline in Cousins' play or a change in the team's priorities could reopen the debate. For now, though, Sunday's result gives Kubiak a stronger foundation for maintaining the status quo.

A tougher test awaits Las Vegas

The victory also arrived at a crucial point in the Raiders' schedule . Las Vegas faces a challenging stretch featuring the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns before its December bye.

Those matchups will provide a much clearer measure of whether the Raiders can build on their win against t he Jets. Cousins will need to maintain his efficiency, and the defense must offer more support if Las Vegas hopes to turn one encouraging afternoon into sustained progress.

The upcoming schedule could also determine how long the conversation about Mendoza remains on hold. If Cousins continues to move the offense and the Raiders remain competitive, Kubiak will have little incentive to make a change.