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By Madison Williams
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Welcome to the NFL, Fernando Mendoza.
The No. 1 pick in this year's NFL Draft made his first start of the season for the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday when facing the Seattle Seahawks. The Raiders' starter for the first nine games was Kirk Cousins, but he was traded back to the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday ahead of the trade deadline.
It was expected Mendoza would start at some point during his rookie season, and his time finally came in Week 10. He appeared in one game on Oct. 11 against the New England Patriots when the Raiders were down 45-17. Las Vegas coach Klint Kubiak gave Mendoza his NFL debut in that moment when the Raiders had no chance of winning. Mendoza completed 6-of-8 passes for 48 yards in the four minutes he played in that game.
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But, he didn't score his first NFL touchdown in that game. That milestone instead came early in Sunday's game between the Raiders and Seahawks. On the Raiders' first drive of the game, Mendoza ended it by scoring a 10-yard rushing touchdown to put the Raiders on the board. That's the best way to score your first NFL touchdown.
If this play looks a little familiar, it's because this play is the same one Mendoza used to help his Indiana Hoosiers win the college football national championship back in January. In the fourth quarter of the national title game against Miami, Mendoza ran in to score a 12-yard rushing touchdown. The Hoosiers held onto the lead to eventually win 27-21 and give the program their first national championship win.
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It was an impressive first drive all around for Mendoza as he brought the Raiders down the field. He completed all three passes he attempted. The rest of the plays were focused on the rushing game.
Mendoza followed up this exciting opening drive with another scoring drive as the Raiders added a field goal to their total at the beginning of the second quarter.
If Mendoza had a lot of nerves heading into his first NFL start on Sunday, which would totally make sense, then he isn't showing it. The rookie looks at ease on the field in the QB1 position.
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