Following their fourth consecutive defeat, a 35-15 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams that brought their record to 3-4, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak acknowledged that the coaching staff has significant soul-searching and film study ahead to address ongoing red-zone and defensive issues.

While Kubiak defended the decision to stick with his veteran quarterback during the blowout, the quarterback himself confronted the growing speculation directly. In a candid admission reported on X by ProFootballTalk, Kirk Cousins commented on the possibility of being replaced by rookie Fernando Mendoza: “If I'm not the best option, I don't want to be out there.” Cousins' challenge to the coaching staff comes after another loss, where his impressive 295-yard, two-touchdown performance was overshadowed by the team's offensive inconsistency and a four-game losing streak.

Raiders QB Kirk Cousins on eventually ceding his position as starter to Fernando Mendoza, following the team’s 4th straight loss.

🎥: By @Sean_Zittel pic.twitter.com/SS0xYItSIg

— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) October 26, 2026

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This transparent stance has intensified calls from fans and analysts for the Raiders to hand the offense over to Mendoza, the first overall pick in the draft. With mounting accuracy issues and a crucial matchup against the Jets approaching, the pressure on Kubiak to make a significant change at quarterback has reached a critical point.