Silver And Black Pride on Fernando Mendoza

ArticleFernando Mendoza Big Ten Championship versus Ohio State, Part XIII of Las Vegas...
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Despite a rather pedestrian stat line—15/23 (65.2 completion percentage), 222 yards, one touchdown and one interception—the Las Vegas Raiders' new quarterback was pretty flippin' impressive on the big stage and played much better than the box score showed. Four of his incompletions were throwaways, and one came via a batted pass, according to Pro Football Focus, and the interception was on a screen where the corner jumped the route to beat the block and make the pick. PFF credited the No. 1 pick of the 2026 NFL draft with three "big-time throws" and zero "turnover-worthy plays" to earn an elite 91.9 grade for the evening.

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Mendoza's 91.9 PFF grade masks pedestrian stats; elite deep-ball and scramble ability.

Despite a pedestrian stat line (15/23, 65.2% completion, 222 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), Mendoza earned an elite 91.9 PFF grade in the Big Ten Championship against Ohio State—his highest single-game grade of the 2025 season. Four incompletions were throwaways, one was a batted pass, and the interception came on a screen where the corner jumped the route. PFF credited him with three big-time throws and zero turnover-worthy plays, demonstrating his ability to throw deep and on the run stood out against the Buckeyes.

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