HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Raiders coach Klint Kubiak, before even taking questions, opened his weekly news conference Monday by affirming that Kirk Cousins remains the starting quarterback and “there is no controversy.”
Kubiak wanted to quell any talk that rookie Fernando Mendoza, the top pick in the NFL draft, would be handed the reins when Las Vegas visits the New York Jets on Sunday.
“Eventually, Fernando is going to play football,” Kubiak said. “We have a plan. We don’t have a timeline for that. Kirk is playing really well, and we’re in the hunt. It’s really important that we keep playing really well behind him and continue to develop Fernando, but Fernando is going to play at some point. It’s not going to be this week.”
It's been a guessing game around the league when the Raiders would turn to Mendoza. Las Vegas' four-game losing streak certainly increased such chatter as the Raiders (3-4) dropped below .500 for the first time.
But Raiders general manager John Spytek has made clear this won't be a quick turnaround for a franchise that has made just two playoff appearances since reaching the Super Bowl in the 2002 season. And the four teams the Raiders just lost to — Kansas City, New England, Buffalo and the Los Angeles Rams — show the gap that still needs to be made up.
Three of those teams are among the betting favorites to win the Super Bowl, and the Patriots made it to the big game last season. The Raiders played the Chiefs and Bills to within a field goal, but they were blown out by the Patriots and Rams.
As far as a big-picture look at where the franchise stands, Kubiak said the team was focused on trying to “win the next game.”
“We’ve played very talented teams and played much more competitive games than that,” Kubiak said, referring to Sunday's 35-21 loss to the Rams. “When you start the game that slow, you put yourself in position to be behind that much, you don’t give yourself a chance to win.”
Los Angeles took a 28-6 halftime lead and then held off a second-half surge by Las Vegas.
The Raiders have issues throughout their lineup that go beyond what a potential quarterback change could help solve. Cousins leads the league with 16 touchdown passes, and his 97.4 passer rating is his highest since 2023.
That's even with a nearly nonexistent running game, an offensive line that has struggled to open holes and fend off pass rushers and a defense that's having trouble getting off the field.
“He’s the leader of the team, a guy that touches the ball every play,” Kubiak said of Cousins. “So it’s important that the team knows where we’re going.”
Punter AJ Cole can be counted on each week to deliver. Against the Rams, he averaged 56 yards per punt, though one turned into a touchback. Cole showed his quarterback skills on a fake punt in the third quarter, completing a pass to fullback Connor Heyward for a first down.
Plenty. The running game averages 3.0 yards per carry. The defense has tied a franchise record by giving up 27-plus points in each of the past five games. And the offensive line remains a work in progress, to put it charitably.
Dylan Laube has been a weapon as a kick returner. He had returns of 42 and 36 yards against the Rams, and for the season averages 31.1 yards, which would be a Raiders record for a full season. He leads the league among those with 10 or more returns. Laube has four returns that have gone at least 40 yards, which also tops the NFL.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor, who played in high school in Las Vegas, hoped to show he is capable of being a first or second option after playing in the shadow of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota. The Raiders believed he could do it, giving Nailor a three-year, $35 million deal with $23 million guaranteed. It hasn't worked out like either party hoped, with Nailor sitting on eight catches for 75 yards and no touchdowns.
The Raiders designated WR Jack Bech (broken forearm) to return from injured reserve, opening a 21-day window in which they must add him to the 53-man roster, place him on season-ending IR or release or trade him. Las Vegas faces that deadline Wednesday regarding WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. (hamstring).
35.8 — Average points allowed by the Raiders over the past five weeks, highest in the NFL.
The Raiders visit the Jets on Sunday.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak talks to reporters following an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) scrambles for yardage against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
If you love sports, Oct. 26, 2026, was tough to beat.
Five professional leagues in North America were in action at the same time on Monday night, a phenomenon known as a sports equinox.
Major League Baseball and the NFL vied for the most viewers while the NBA, WNBA and NHL gave their diehard fans games to watch.
Monday marked the 33rd sports equinox, the first since Oct. 27, 2025, and the fourth instance with women's professional basketball included, according to Sportradar.
Here's a guide on how to sample a little bit of this and that in the sports smorgasbord:
The Tampa Bay Rays hosted the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the World Series, with the game starting shortly after 8 p.m. EDT on Fox. After the Brewers won the first two games by one run, they scored eight with two outs in the fifth inning on the way to winning 10-1, with Brandon Woodruff finishing it off on the mound.
Milwaukee is one victory away from the franchise's first championship in nearly six decades of existence. Game 4 is Tuesday night.
Even though the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys entered with 2-4 records, the NFL always draws a lot of interest and millions care about the NFC East matchup that kicked off at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN.
With quarterback Jalen Hurts on injured reserve because of blood clots, the reeling Eagles continued their free fall. Dak Prescott threw for three touchdowns, Javonte Williams ran for 155 yards and the Cowboys rolled to a 38-21 win.
Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving returned to the Dallas Mavericks' lineup for their game at the Miami Heat. That game tipped off at 7:30 p.m. on NBA TV, well before baseball and football got underway.
Flagg dominated with 29 points and 11 assists as the Mavs sent the Heat to an 0-4 start.
In the middle of the World Series and “Monday Night Football,” the NBA had Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors visiting Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets at 10 p.m. on NBCSN and Peacock.
The WNBA was vying for eyeballs against MLB, the NFL, NBA and NHL for the first time since 2000, when the league did it three times in September of that year.
The Golden State Valkyries hosted Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream in Game 5 of the Finals at 8 p.m. on USA Network, CNBC and Peacock. With the best-of-seven series tied at two games apiece, the Valkyries won 64-55 to move one win away from their first title in their second season.
Game 6 is Thursday in Atlanta.
The NHL had some of its top scorers skating in three games.
The New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings were on the ice at Madison Square Garden in a game that started at 7 p.m. on NHL Network. The Kings scored three times and chased Rangers goaltender James Reimer before either baseball or football started.
In a game that started at 8:30 on ESPN+, Toronto lost 5-2 at Calgary but not before captain Auston Matthews became the second-fastest U.S.-born player to reach 800 career points, doing so in 703 games.
See AP’s full sports coverage here
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) drives forward under pressure from Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) celebrates after scoring next to Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) during the second half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Dallas Cowboys' DeMarvion Overshown blocks a pass by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee (16) during the first half of an NFL football game in Philadelphia, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Milwaukee Brewers' Garrett Mitchell, left, celebrates past Tampa Bay Rays catcher Nick Fortes after scoring during the fifth inning of Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla., between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) passes the ball around Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kendrich Williamas (34) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton warms up before Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Atlanta Dream, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (18) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The flag is displayed during the national anthem prior to Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla., between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Edmonton Oilers' Evan Bouchard (2), Leon Draisaitl (29) and Connor McDavid (97) celebrate after Draisaitl's goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)
Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) celebrates scoring during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) talks with guard Kyrie Irving (11) as forward P.J. Washington (25) looks on during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Dallas, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda celebrates a double during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Milwaukee, between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
