Nov 11, 2026 · 45 min
Listen from 12:45
Listen at 12:45
Raiders gamble on rookie quarterback timing
Hour 2: Is it the right time for the Raiders to start Fernando Mendoza?
The Raiders’ decision to start Fernando Mendoza raises a broader question about whether immediate opportunity can outweigh the developmental protection of a veteran mentor.
- 1The panel questions whether trading Kirk Cousins leaves Fernando Mendoza exposed to a difficult schedule and insufficient protection.
- 2Kansas City’s Josh Downs acquisition becomes part of a wider comparison among the AFC’s leading contenders.
- 3Dallas’s playoff ceiling and the Mets’ interest in Tarik Skubal extend the episode’s debate from quarterback risk to roster construction.
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Mad Dog’s church-and-football dilemma turns a betting conflict involving the Lions and Patriots into the episode’s most comic detour.
The brief
The central debate is whether the Raiders made the right call by trading Kirk Cousins and handing the starting job to rookie Fernando Mendoza after poor quarterback play.
Mendoza’s challenge is not only the opening schedule but the loss of Cousins as a sideline mentor; the panel argues that protection and a clear definition of early success will shape his development.
Kansas City’s addition of Josh Downs prompts a comparison of Buffalo, Kansas City, Jacksonville, and Cincinnati, with schedule strength, defensive improvement, and offensive firepower driving the AFC discussion.
Mad Dog shifts the tone with rants about Mario Cristobal, the New Jersey Devils, and a church-versus-football betting dilemma involving the Lions and Patriots.
The episode closes by testing Dallas against San Francisco and questioning whether the Mets should pursue Tarik Skubal despite concerns about another massive pitching investment.
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