Aug 28, 2026 · 53 min
Mendoza’s debut timeline tests Raiders’ quarterback plans
Hour 1: How Soon will we see Mendoza in a Regular Season Game?
The episode weighs immediate quarterback decisions against longer-term championship questions facing several NFL contenders and teams.
- 1Kirk Cousins remains the Raiders’ starter while Fernando Mendoza adjusts to NFL speed and complexity.
- 2Lamar Jackson’s contract protections give him unusual leverage as Baltimore enters a pivotal season.
- 3Buffalo’s Super Bowl hopes depend on whether its defense can finally provide Josh Allen enough support.
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The hosts react to Gannon Buhr’s blind ace on a long par-three hole at the Professional Disc Golf Association World Championships.
The brief
Fernando Mendoza’s preseason struggles raise questions about how quickly a rookie can handle NFL speed and complexity. The panel agrees Kirk Cousins is currently the Raiders’ starter, while debating whether Mendoza could take over later.
Lamar Jackson’s no-trade and no-franchise-tag protections give him unusual bargaining power. Baltimore’s new coaching staff and the Ravens’ season could determine how much that leverage matters.
The discussion broadens to Bill Belichick’s second season at North Carolina, the Tar Heels’ low projected win total, and whether talent and schedule can produce bowl eligibility.
A blind ace by Gannon Buhr at the Professional Disc Golf Association World Championships briefly interrupts the football debate, offering the hour’s most startling display of precision.
The panel compares AFC and NFC offenses, questions the 49ers’ ability to survive an aging, injury-prone roster, and assesses whether Buffalo’s defense can support Josh Allen’s Super Bowl pursuit.