The NFL season kicks off one week from today.
Yeah, I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about a Wednesday opener. But that might be a discussion for another day.
Anyway, when the Las Vegas Raiders take the field in Week1, they won’t be turning to their No. 1 overall pick to take the first snap under center.
Fernando Mendoza Will *NOT* Be the Raiders’ Starting QB in Week 1
To be clear, Fernando Mendoza is still the future face of the Raiders. And I think he will be fun to watch whenever he takes the field. It’s just that it will not happen to start Week 1. Vegas used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to select Mendoza, but will turn to Kirk Cousins to start in the opener.
Raiders Head Coach Klint Kubiak announced that Cousins will be the team’s Week 1 starter.
“He played really good football,” Kubiak said, via the team’s official website. “I’m really happy with all three of our quarterbacks. Kirk’s had a really good offseason, very good camp and he’s earned it.”
Kirk Cousins, then with the Atlanta Falcons, gets drilled by Eagles defenders. Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesThis isn’t Cousins’ first rodeo, mind you. Cousins enters Year 15 in the NFL. He has 167 starts, more than 44,000 passing yards, needs just two passing touchdowns to get to 300, and two more victories to reach 90 on his career. In other words, Cousins has been around the block. Several times over. Cousins has “unc” status on the block as he enters his age-38 season.
As for Mendoza, he will become the first quarterback taken first overall in an NFL Draft to not start in Week 1 since Baker Mayfield in 2018. Since then, we’ve seen Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Bryce Young, Caleb Williams, and Cam Ward get the nod on opening day for their respective teams. This might be the smartest thing the Raiders have done in a while. Too many teams force young quarterbacks into unenviable situations before they are ready to lead. Slow-playing Mendoza’s development feels like the right thing to do here.
Patriots Field Goal Funny Business Has Been Unearthed
Bill Belichick’s evil genius ways knew no bounds during the New England Patriots’ dynasty era. This is one of the wildest things I’ve seen unearthed in quite some time:
Much has been made of the Patriots’ mysterious “Pink Stripes.” How about yellow ones?I went through more than a decade of TV broadcasts and uncovered a diabolically clever piece of Patriots gamesmanship.When opposing kickers lined up at Gillette Stadium, the video board… pic.twitter.com/Y5nf0F5vm6
— Ryan Paganetti (@RyanPaganetti) September 2, 2026Ravens kicker Bill Cundiff misses a 32 yard field goal in the 2011 season and the Patriots advance to the Super Bowl. Peek the scoreboard. t.co/2YiabM9HjD pic.twitter.com/vnYBD75PO8
— Savage (@Savageboston) September 2, 2026This used to happen a lot in different places over the years ?. One stadium used to zoom in on your face, can’t remember which one but it was always interesting to see what opposing teams would do. t.co/XHj43O1TYy
— Graham Gano (@GrahamGano) September 2, 2026That Graham Gano mentions that similar things have happened in other NFL stadiums is head-turning, too. What other teams were messing with kickers like this?
I can’t imagine the Bears would do anything like this at Soldier Field. Then again, they wouldn’t need to because the wind does enough dirty work to help mess with kicks along the lake.
NFL News, Notes, and Extra Points
It sounds like Patriots receiver A.J. Brown is primed for a big year:#Patriots WR AJ Brown has made plays this summer against Christian Gonzalez, Sauce Gardner and Quinyon Mitchell.“Certainly would not be surprised if it was a vintage AJ Brown season. … From a passing standpoint, he’s got a good upgrade there in Drake Maye.” ~@DougKyed t.co/LpCLtqQLjw pic.twitter.com/6riHTRHqrh
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 2, 2026 The Bears will see Brown and the Patriots on Oct. 22 in a Week 7 Thursday Night Football showdown at Soldier Field.MORE: 2026 Bears Schedule | 2026 NFL Thursday Night Football Schedule
Lambeau Field will host a college hockey doubleheader, which will feature a trio of Big Ten powerhouses — Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio State. Even as a Bears fan, I’ve raved about Lambeau Field as a great destination to watch an NFL game. But I’m curious about how a hockey game would look at one of the most venerable venues in all of American sports. This guy took the words right off my fingertips:How do you wear that sweater speaking to the media after the Myles deal ? t.co/P70m4QSC1S
— Noah Olson (@NoahOlsonCLE) September 2, 2026 Between this fashion choice and Deshaun Watson’s comments about fans, the Browns are coming off tone deaf. Houston Texans General Manager Nick Caserio has set a Week 1 deadline for quarterback C.J. Stroud to sign an extension. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the team is prepared to give Stroud a deal that would pay him $50 million per year. Considering that we’re already on Caleb Williams Extension Watch over here, it will be worth following what happens with quarterbacks elsewhere. Zachary Pereles (CBS Sports) explores the winners and losers of the NFL preseason.MORE NFL ON THE BN BEARS PODCAST: Apple | Spotify | YouTube
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