Raiderstation

After a successful week one win, the Raiders are going to their second home at the Chargers this week.

View from the enemy

https://www.thepowderblues.com/forum/fo ... gers-forum

Goodtimes333 wrote: Fri Sep 18, 2026 10:53 am Before the Miami game I got this random hunch that Stukes was going to get his first career INT in the game. Specifically Stukes. I was following the the game on a podcast with my dad & Said, Stukes is gonna get a pick. It's gonna happen. Five minutes later it happened. With that said, I got a similar random but strong feeling the other night that Tonka Hemingway is going to make a pretty big impact in the game. He's gonna make some plays & really be a thorn in the Chargers ass.

It's very odd to me that these are two relatively random players & specifically on defense. Stukes a rookie who we didn't know was going to start until recently & Tonka who isn't a headliner per say. We'll see what happens!

To add to your hunch, I think a narrative not being spoken about enough is that the Chargers lost Tyler Biadasz, one of their top FA signings for the season. I'm not a Herbert fan but the nat'l media has a way of making it all about the QB. The tackles are good but the interior of their OL is not doing well at the moment, and I think we should find some success there.

I suspect that one of the first 3 or 4 plays The Raiders offense will try to hit a long one just to show it's possible even if it won't be the norm with Cousin.

RI RAIDER wrote: Fri Sep 18, 2026 9:20 am The only reason Kirk is playing is to provide leadership, buy time, and get molly whopped. Its inevitable that Mendoza takes over in the near future. If its decided that our OL is better than advertised, it definitely pushes the time frame up.

I got Molly whopped one time but in my defense it was last call and the pickins were slim. Not one of my finer moments.

The arguing over Mendoza is becoming comical. He IS our #1 QB. He WILL start at some point. No amount of arguing/bitching is going to move the needle with Kubiak...lol. This team isn't competeing this season whether or not Mendoza plays.... barring a miracle. Have a beer or a pour of your favorite spirit and just enjoy the ride. The destination is the big show, in the not too distant future.

Goodtimes333 wrote: Fri Sep 18, 2026 10:02 am Last year the Chargers had a ridiculous nack for tipping passes straight up in the air like mini punts. They got a whole grip of interceptions like that. Multiple off of Geno. That comes to mind & Kirk overall just needs to lock his shit down. I think he can do it but I'm not allowing myself to be anxious to see Mendoza. His time will come & I trust Kubiak with that decision. Not that a fans thoughts matter but it's nice to have faith in a coach finally

....to be honest, I agree with Mendoza's time will get here soon enough, and this is why I didn't specify on that 'arm', as I could still see a scenario, were it to have to be too soon, that AOC might be the better option before mendo. ...Id' Imagine that I would be in the minority on that one, but my thinking would be should cousins not be able to move that ball down the filed better than he did, and we needed to make a change in the next 2-4 games, say, I could see a case for not defaulting to Mendoza 'just because', and this would more than likely allow him a more reasonable time to be ready for live bullets.
...I just think that if cousins can't make it happen and this is made obvious in the near future, rather than neither the progress of the offense, it would be a legit option, and I could see it making sense....

Dr Death wrote: Fri Sep 18, 2026 12:28 pm The arguing over Mendoza is becoming comical. He IS our #1 QB. He WILL start at some point. No amount of arguing/bitching is going to move the needle with Kubiak...lol. This team isn't competeing this season whether or not Mendoza plays.... barring a miracle. Have a beer or a pour of your favorite spirit and just enjoy the ride. The destination is the big show, in the not too distant future.

I find it interesting more than anything. Glad we have Kirk to give Mendo a long runway, but you point out the material reality of Kirk's poor performance and some rush to defend him. Hard to understand why, folks are desperate to have an opinion I guess. Personally I'm completely fine losing a couple of games if it means Mendoza avoids injury and is primed for the big stage when the time comes. But Kirk Cousins did not have a good game week 1 and we're not winning many games with a guy who goes 1-7 downfield against the Dolphins...it's the only reason we're talking about the timing of Mendoza starting right now.

Honestly Cousins' week 1 was somewhat emblematic of Geno's last year even though his style of play was very different. He made some good reads and some good throws and there was enough bad to be worrisome if you're actually counting on him for the full season.... like Geno in game 1. Winning makes the mistakes seem like less of an issue but if you look at either guy's game 1 objectively, they show real flaws that teams can key on.

Dr Death wrote: Fri Sep 18, 2026 12:28 pm The arguing over Mendoza is becoming comical. He IS our #1 QB. He WILL start at some point. No amount of arguing/bitching is going to move the needle with Kubiak...lol. This team isn't competeing this season whether or not Mendoza plays.... barring a miracle. Have a beer or a pour of your favorite spirit and just enjoy the ride. The destination is the big show, in the not too distant future.

i agree but the banter from raiderfan is fun

chucker wrote: Fri Sep 18, 2026 1:32 pm Honestly Cousins' week 1 was somewhat emblematic of Geno's last year even though his style of play was very different. He made some good reads and some good throws and there was enough bad to be worrisome if you're actually counting on him for the full season.... like Geno in game 1. Winning makes the mistakes seem like less of an issue but if you look at either guy's game 1 objectively, they show real flaws that teams can key on.

yes, the w covers up a lot but the 2 ints and inability to threaten a defense is gonna be a hindrance on the offense sooner rather then later imo

mstrbass2000 wrote: Fri Sep 18, 2026 1:38 pm yes, the w covers up a lot but the 2 ints and inability to threaten a defense is gonna be a hindrance on the offense sooner rather then later imo

100%

Watch Kirk hit a long ball for a TD Sunday with all this talk lol. Needs to happen

Goodtimes333 wrote: Fri Sep 18, 2026 2:22 pm Watch Kirk hit a long ball for a TD Sunday with all this talk lol. Needs to happen

5% chance. What you do in practice vs the game are entirely different things. Practice you wear a red jersey so you can sling it knowing nobody is going to touch you. In the game with a pocket collapsing is an entirely different animal. He is not the player he used to be and our receivers are not likely getting separation downfield. Don't know if he has hit the wall or not but I am not expecting bombs from the guy. Maybe he surprises me but I am not holding my breath that a guy his age is anything more than a game manager now.

Attyla wrote: Fri Sep 18, 2026 2:33 pm 5% chance. What you do in practice vs the game are entirely different things. Practice you wear a red jersey so you can sling it knowing nobody is going to touch you. In the game with a pocket collapsing is an entirely different animal. He is not the player he used to be and our receivers are not likely getting separation downfield. Don't know if he has hit the wall or not but I am not expecting bombs from the guy. Maybe he surprises me but I am not holding my breath that a guy his age is anything more than a game manager now.

Shot in the dark baby. I'm an eternal optimist. It's not so much an expectation as more of a belief that all things are possible

Goodtimes333 wrote: Fri Sep 18, 2026 2:35 pm Shot in the dark baby. I'm an eternal optimist. It's not so much an expectation as more of a belief that all things are possible

get pregnant and we can talk

With Porter out either Masses or McCoy will get the start.