Las Vegas Raiders schedule gives Fernando Mendoza his first reality check
The Heisman will earn his stripes early.
Las Vegas Raiders schedule gives Fernando Mendoza his first reality check originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Las Vegas Raiders will head into the 2026-27 season with renewed optimism.
A No. 1 overall pick as the new face of the franchise in Fernando Mendoza, new coach in Klint Kubiak and a willingness to compete in the AFC West. But the Raiders and Mendoza will be thrown into the fire early with a tough schedule, which at some points appears to be unforgiving.
Las Vegas opens the season against the Miami Dolphins, but then hit the road for back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints. Week 4 will bring the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes to Sin City. We'll know by then what this Raiders team is made of this season.
For a rookie quarterback like Mendoza, this is go time and will show how well he has adjusted to the learning curve. Las Vegas Raiders 2026-27 Schedule Week 1: vs. Dolphins Week 2: at Chargers Week 3: at Saints Week 4: vs.