Raiders pummeled by Patriots, leading to Fernando Mendoza's NFL debut

Sam Gordon, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Oct 11, 2026

Published in Football

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — So much for the 3-0 start for the Las Vegas Raiders, who are losers Sunday for the second straight week.

This time uncompetitively.

The Raiders were eviscerated 45-17 at Gillette Stadium by a New England Patriots team down star cornerback Christian Gonzalez — along with three other cornerbacks. Mistake-averse its first four games, Las Vegas surrendered 101 penalty yards and was outgained 536-306 amid its two-way effectiveness.

Under duress all afternoon, Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 19 of 28 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown to tight end Brock Bowers, who had eight receptions for 110 yards. Questionable to play with a foot injury, running back Ashton Jeanty supplied 10 carries for 27 as Las Vegas overall averaged 2.1 yards per carry.

Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza replaced Cousins with 6:06 to play, finishing his NFL debut 6-of-8 passing for 48 yards.

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye finished 26 of 34 for 374 yards and four scores, also rushing for a touchdown with running back Rhamondre Stevenson.

Having lost their Week 4 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs by three, the Raiders opened with a three-and-out and the Patriots opened a 7-0 lead. Maye completed a 35-yard scoring pass to DeMario Douglas, who slipped behind the secondary uncovered — foreshadowing the ensuing three quarters.

Cousins would answer the next possession with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Bowers following their contested a 24-yard connection. New England broke the 7-7 tie with an 11-play, 84-yard drive that included a pair of fourth-down conversions and defensive pass interference from Eric Stokes. Stevenson had the tiebreaking scoring run from 5 yards out — setting up another empty Raiders possession.

Followed by another one.

But defensive tackle Adam Butler forced running back Corey Kiner to fumble and defensive back Darien Porter recovered the football at New England’s 38-yard line. Six plays totaled seven yards and Matt Gay missed a 49-yard field goal, leaving 1:52 to the Patriots, who needed 1:28 to score another touchdown.

Tight end Hunter Henry caught Maye’s third first-half touchdown from 13 yards out after fielding a screen pass for 26 yards to neutralize a second-down sack for a 21-7 halftime deficit.

Maye opened the second half with his third scoring passing, hitting former UNLV wide receiver Kyle Williams for a 35-yard score. A trade of three-and-outs resulted in the second scoring play from Las Vegas, a 46-yard field goal from Gay that followed a 27-yard catch for Bowers.

The Patriots answered with a nine-play, 71-yard touchdown drive that Maye would cap with a 3-yard run. Bowers lost a fumble on the next possession. Raiders running Dylan Laube scored his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter before Maye’s second touchdown pass to Douglas.

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