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I have rarely seen a QB do more with less. Kubiak has made it clear that he is the guy this year but his play has really defied conventional wisdom. The run blocking is as putrid as it was last season. The pass blocking has been getting compliments but how much as that has to do with Cousins's pocket presence and pre snap reads?

I am not sure the subject deserves its own thread but I think what he has accomplished this season cannot be overstated and he has essentially put the offense on his back. I don't think anyone saw this coming.

Thoughts?...

SuperRaider wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2026 12:09 am I don’t know; if the raiders can work out his contract that Cousin I am talking about; I think they need to keep him on the team…we really don’t have any team leaders anymore and he be a great Backup QB to have on the bench for next season….Really if we didn’t have Mendoza on the bench; we be talking about extending Cousin contract for few more years as the starting QB….

Another option would be to float Mendoza on trade market and see what the raiders can get for him….I mean if a team offered 3 first round picks; do we do it

We are not floating the number one overall pick in the most recent draft who has yet to start a game for us. And nobody is giving up three first round picks for the number one overall pick in the most recent draft who has yet to start a game for us.

But, there might be a team who would offer up a fourth round pick for a 38 year old on a team friendly contract who are contenders and have just lost their QB for what might be the rest of the season.

We are not contenders, we are a mirage. You do that deal if you are the Raiders.

Attyla wrote: Sun Nov 01, 2026 5:05 pm What if it benefits the team

Baltimore would grossly have to over compensate. I don’t see that happening.

Reno Hightower wrote: Sun Nov 01, 2026 9:13 pm I am a firm believer that changing a team's culture is a vital step towards building a winner. Kubiak, Cousins and Crosby along with Bowers are laying the foundation for what we all hope this team will become. It's probable that Cousins and possible that Crosby will not be around to reap the long term benefit associated with how they are presently playing but the orgaization will.

Maybe Cousins willingly relinquishes his role to Mendoza and restructures his contract to stay on as a backup next season. Crosby still has gas in the tank. 7-10 or 8-9 this season would be a huge step, huge...

Perpetual cellar dwellers like the Browns, Jets and it pains me to say it but also the Raiders have had great draft positions for decades yet without a positive culture shift and belief in the process that draft capital is largely wasted. Free agents only come over if they are paid stupid money that shoots the cap all to hell.

Respect solves a lot of problems.

Cousins has proven to anyone that knows a lick about football that he is a leader with a great attitude. He still possesses the awareness and understanding of the game to keep the motor of the offense humming, even as his skills diminish over time. His arm isn’t a cannon and his mobility is lacking but, his decision making and football acumen is right up there with some of the best still. Cousins has the attitude and ability to be not only an asset as an extra coach on the field, but also a valuable player capable of stepping in at a moment’s notice for what I’m betting is a couple more years.

If he were to restructure his contract to stay on, it would be invaluable for Mendoza having him around. You could trade AOC and his expiring, cheap contract for whatever you can get and pick up another mid to late round Qb in the draft, on a cheap rookie deal.

Cousins, in my mind, is a proven leader amongst men. He is easily an asset over a liability, even at his age. Especially at a reduced price, which would indicate he is about the team. He understands he is not long for the league, he’s probably not getting a chance to start on a team with realistic expectations of winning the Super Bowl, nor to another team that will value him as much as we do. We took a chance on him, that’s gotta count for something.

Cousins will absolutely not be looking for a backup role. He might end up in a backup role at some point this season when it (hopefully) becomes Mendoza time. But there's no chance that he signs anywhere next year to be a backup as long as he's healthy.

I agree with Attyla that we are a mirage this year. I think the D can, and will, play better but I think our offensive numbers are better than our offense can really be expected to perform. I think games vs the Niners and Seahawks will demonstrate that.

I don't expect the team to trade Cousins before the deadline, but I wouldn't be mad if they did. 2026 is still just the 2027 preseason for me because I think we're still a pretender. At this point I think Mendoza time will be no sooner than after the bye week and I can't blame the coaching staff for the delay because they're fielding a competitive team as is and that's their job.

chucker wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2026 5:36 am Cousins will absolutely not be looking for a backup role. He might end up in a backup role at some point this season when it (hopefully) becomes Mendoza time. But there's no chance that he signs anywhere next year to be a backup as long as he's healthy.

I agree with Attyla that we are a mirage this year. I think the D can, and will, play better but I think our offensive numbers are better than our offense can really be expected to perform. I think games vs the Niners and Seahawks will demonstrate that.

I don't expect the team to trade Cousins before the deadline, but I wouldn't be mad if they did. 2026 is still just the 2027 preseason for me because I think we're still a pretender. At this point I think Mendoza time will be no sooner than after the bye week and I can't blame the coaching staff for the delay because they're fielding a competitive team as is and that's their job.

We are a mirage. This team is still woefully thin on talent and the defencies get exposed on both sides of the ball when we play the better teams in the league. Most of our starters would still be backups on most other teams so Kubiak putting together anything with a pulse is a testament to him. We're doing what this team needs to be doing right now, beating the other crap teams in the league while developing what talent we actually do have on the roster

Cousins throws some tight window balls that are crazy good. His lack of turnovers is what is keeping up in games too.

Hellbound wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2026 5:42 am We are a mirage. This team is still woefully thin on talent and the defencies get exposed on both sides of the ball when we play the better teams in the league. Most of our starters would still be backups on most other teams so Kubiak putting together anything with a pulse is a testament to him. We're doing what this team needs to be doing right now, beating the other crap teams in the league while developing what talent we actually do have on the roster

What I love is that this team doesn't roll over. We can be getting handled and the effort is still there and we'll claw back into a game like this where we're down 2 scores. That can work vs the Jets, but it won't work vs good teams. Regardless, the will to win is there and we'll need that when we're really ready to compete for something meaningful.

chucker wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2026 5:47 am What I love is that this team doesn't roll over. We can be getting handled and the effort is still there and we'll claw back into a game like this where we're down 2 scores. That can work vs the Jets, but it won't work vs good teams. Regardless, the will to win is there and we'll need that when we're really ready to compete for something meaningful.

How many times in the last 20 something years have we seen this team just give up during a game? Or on a season for that matter
That imo is the first step in turning a team around. He's definitely changing the culture. As long as we don't screw up drafts and fa, the talent will come. This year is the first of a proper rebuild. Him weeding out who buys in, who is or isn't a scheme fit and evaluating his staff is what this year should be about. The wins and the way the offense and qb are playing is just an added bonus. Plus already having a qb in waiting is one less burden that needs to be addressed

People here are calling for Mendoza to play while at the same time are criticizing how weak our roster is. This incongruity is kind of understandable. But, management has handled the situation just fine. Cousins has been a perfect fit save he is slow afoot. We are actually still in the playoff hunt and that is a good thing. This team needs to do that old cliche— they need to learn how to win. Cousins is perfect for that role. With this O-line and this defense, Mendoza was unlikely to thrive. I remain comfortable with him on the sideline for now. He’ll get his chance later this season.

Mirage?

The mirage was 2016 when our +/- turnover deferential hid the team’s weaknesses.

The other mirage was 2021 when COVID, Jacobs, Carlson kicking six last minute FGs compensated for the lackluster play of Boy Wonder at QB.

This year isn’t a mirage. Can it be argued they are playing above their heads to a degree? Sure that’s always a possibility. The other possibility is they are playing hard in year one of a rebuild.

And if this is what Klint can pull off with what the roster looks like now? The future is bright.

This has nothing to do with me huffing glue like my avatar. This has everything to do with we are so gun shy from decades of losing we can’t see the forest for the trees. Will we lose to the 49ers and Seahawks? Odd say yes that’s most likely. But if we keep battling and getting better? I like our chances.

I keep going back to the Lions. Their recent run of success didn’t happen in a vacuum. They started building and their record lagged behind the progress those first two years. Especially the year they went something like 0-6 or 1-6 to start the season finishing 8-9, then 12-5 and then 15-2.

If that happens for us? I’ll glad take the frustration of this season if it means we are building for the long haul.

The teams we have won against this year have a combined record of 5-24.

We are beating the teams that are bad which is a good thing but we aren’t ready for the post season by a long shot.

As someone else just said, this is the 2027 preseason for me and I am enjoying it.

I really like Kirk Cousins but I’d trade him and Max in a heartbeat for the right offer as we need a WR1 and trenches trenches trenches.

I like both players but I don’t feel they are the future

Grumpy13 wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2026 4:48 am Baltimore would grossly have to over compensate. I don’t see that happening.

baltimore and philly would pay up ...what about minny ??? the shrimp stinks up there and kirk has ties tot he vikings

ps a deal with bmore would have to be way way more then the other for f[raiders_icon]cking us over on the max trade ...they r down to fag nano at qb and he is banged up

SuperRaider wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2026 12:09 amAnother option would be to float Mendoza on trade market and see what the raiders can get for him….I mean if a team offered 3 first round picks; do we do it

Dude.

mstrbass2000 wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2026 8:03 am baltimore and philly would pay up ...what about minny ??? the shrimp stinks up there and kirk has ties tot he vikings

ps a deal with bmore would have to be way way more then the other for f[raiders_icon]cking us over on the max trade ...they r down to fag nano at qb and he is banged up

If Baltimore and Philly accepted that their seasons are lost, there's no chance they'll give up high picks in an attempt to make the postseason. Talking about getting a boatload of great picks is fun, but it's not going to happen.