Two Stanley Cup Playoffs rounds ago, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins cranked the siren at the Vegas Golden Knights’ Game 5 matchup with the Anaheim Ducks.
Cousins was introduced as the guy who will be “throwing touchdowns for your Las Vegas Raiders next season,” and the crowd went wild. It remains to be seen whether Cousins, 37, or rookie wunderkind Fernando Mendoza will be the Raiders’ starting quarterback in September, but Mendoza is already following in his mentor’s footsteps.
Joined by the Raiders’ offensive line, it was Mendoza’s turn to crank the siren at the Stanley Cup Final between the Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes (Shop Canes Fan Gear) on Saturday night.
Mendoza took it very seriously:
The Golden Knights surged to a 4-0 lead in the second period, but the Hurricanes tied it by the end of the third period. Vegas eventually emerged victorious by way of a Shea Theodore goal in double overtime and lead the series 2-1.
Mendoza got a taste of how Vegas would respond if he can lead the Raiders to their first playoff win since January 2003.
The Raiders selected Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23. Mendoza, the reigning Heisman winner, led the Indiana Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record and their first national title last season. He threw for 3,535 yards and an FBS-most 41 touchdowns on an astounding 72% completion. The Raiders are starved for that level of quarterback play.
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