The Raiders are quietly making a strong push for the playoffs, thanks in large part to Kirk Cousins, who has emerged as the team's best shot at breaking their 20-year drought.
Kirk Cousins doesn't appear to be in any hurry to hand the starting quarterback position to Fernando Mendoza, the team's first overall draft pick. Instead, the veteran quarterback seems content to keep earning the job on a daily basis.
Cousins' approach is evident in his comments to the press. "I think in this league, it's kind of one day at a time," he said. "You're only as good as your last throw, your last practice. You try to every day go out and earn that opportunity and never take anything for granted."
This mindset has served Cousins well in training camp, where he has run the first-team offense and shown no signs of relinquishing the job to Mendoza. Coach Klink Kubiak has praised the veteran quarterback's competitiveness, saying that he expects Mendoza and Aidan O'Connell to push Cousins to be his best.
The Raiders brought in Cousins to be a bridge, rather than hand the offense directly to a rookie. His guaranteed $20 million contract is a significant investment, but one that the team hopes will pay off in the form of a playoff berth.
For his part, Mendoza is still adjusting to NFL life, learning to take snaps under center and the footwork adjustments that come with it. He struggled during much of OTAs and minicamp, but has shown significant improvement in training camp, completing some tight-window passes.
Kubiak has praised Mendoza's mindset, saying that he loves the way the rookie quarterback approaches the game. "Nobody has arrived, especially a rookie quarterback," the coach said.
Mendoza's willingness to work for the job is evident in his comments to the press. "There's a lot of times that the offensive line would correct me," he said. "The running backs, tight ends, receivers, they would help put me in place. It's that relationship that we have, that dynamic relationship where we can hold each other accountable."
This kind of answer likely sits well in the locker room, where the team is looking for a leader to emerge. And while Mendoza is still learning the ropes, it's clear that he has the potential to be that leader.
The Raiders' chances of making the playoffs will depend on a number of factors, including the performance of their young quarterback. But for now, it's clear that Cousins is the team's best shot at breaking their 20-year drought.
Source: Yahoo Sports