How will rookie QBs Carson Beck and Fernando Mendoza perform?
The Las Vegas Raiders host the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, August 13, to start their 2026 preseason. Kickoff is at 5 pm, PT with us at PayPerHead.
Kirk Cousins will be the QB starter for the season for the Raiders, but the fans will be watching newly drafted Fernando Mendoza to see how comfortably he sits in the position. He should get most of the snaps in this game, along with Aidan O’Connell.
The Cardinals have their own rookie quarterback, Carson Beck, who already has one game under his belt in the Pro NFL Hall of Fame game. The two rookies competing will be a rematch of their college national championship game.
The head coaches of both teams (Mike LaFleur and Klint Kubiak) are in their first NFL preseason, so there is little past data to draw on to set expectations for this matchup.
How did Carson Beck perform in his NFL debut?
The Cardinals finished last in the NFC West last season with a 3-14 record. They’ve already played a preseason game this season, taking on the Carolina Panthers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. Rookie quarterback Carson Beck made his debut in what was an exciting start to the preseason.
Carolina’s undrafted rookie, Haynes King, stole the spotlight by leading a 13-play, 65-yard drive in the final 2 minutes, which won the game 33-30. But the Cardinals were still impressed with what they saw in their third-round pick.
Beck looked comfortable in the pocket and completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. They may have lost last week, but they still put up 30 points.
How have turnovers plagued the Raiders in recent seasons?
The Raiders finished the 2025 season last place in the AFC West, with a 3-14 record. In the last two seasons, the Raiders have lost 27 games (4-13 in 2024), while winning only 7. At least they’ve been consistent.
They’re hoping to change that with the signing of 6-foot-5, 225-pound, No. 1 overall draft pick quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
One of the stats they hope to improve is turnover differential. Geno Smith led the league in interceptions last season. They are one of the worst teams in the league at turnovers on offence and at being unable to force turnovers on defense.
Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza should be able to reduce the offensive turnovers.
Unmatched. Undisputed. Undeniable.
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) August 13, 2026
Maxx Crosby is ranked No. 24 on the NFL's 2026 edition of Top 100 Players
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When was the last Cardinals vs Raiders matchup?
These teams are like distant cousins, as they haven’t faced each other since September 2022, when the Cardinals lost 29-23 in overtime. In the last 24 years, they’ve locked horns roughly every four years. Since 1973, they’ve met 13 times, with the Raiders leading that series 6-5.
What is the prediction for Cardinals vs Raiders on Aug 13?
The Raiders are about 2.5-point favorites because of home-field advantage and the Cardinals’ extra pregame experience. The Raiders’ camp will be observing Mendoza and their young core, while the Cardinals will tweak their lineups to further improve from the Hall of Fame game.
The focus will be on offense and the rookie QBs, but the coaches will also observe how the defense works without full starter rotations.
Our Cardinals vs Raiders prediction is a close game, as neither team is solely focused on the win. Expect the Raiders to get the win for their home crowd, 24-20.
