Silver and Black Today

In the debut episode of Silver & Black Verdicts, Judge Gully puts Raider Nation's preseason panic on trial. After Fernando Mendoza's rough pick-six outing, fans and national media are ready to bench Kirk Cousins and hand the rookie the keys — but the court isn't buying it. Judge Gully lays out the defense: rushing a ten-year franchise investment before he's ready isn't patience; it's panic, and the same people demanding Mendoza now would be the first to blame the coaching staff if he struggled. Verdict: stay the path, start Cousins, let Mendoza develop on his own clock — case closed.

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The Raiders escaped Houston with a 22-20 comeback win, but the real story broke after the final whistle. Fernando Mendoza ran the entire first half of the offense, threw an early pick-six, and struggled — then Aidan O'Connell came off the bench and threw for 166 yards, including the game-winning score. Afterward, head coach Klint Kubiak refused to name Kirk Cousins the Week 1 starter, telling reporters "We got another week. I don't want anyone to be comfortable in their job."

On this episode of Silver & Black Today, Scott Gulbransen breaks down what Kubiak's comments actually mean for the quarterback competition, why Mendoza's rough start might matter less than the box score suggests, what Aidan O'Connell's performance does to that quarterback room, and every notable moment from the win over Houston — including Malik Benson's continued rise, the Jackson Powers-Johnson injury situation, and what to watch as the Raiders return to practice ahead of next week's preseason finale against the 49ers.

Silver & Black Today is your source for Las Vegas Raiders news and analysis, part of the BLEAV Podcast Network.

Follow the show: @LVGully / @SNBToday

Chapters:

00:00 — Intro and show setup
00:49 — Raiders beat Houston 22-20, but the real story is what Kubiak said after
01:03 — Kubiak's "let's keep going" QB comment, and what it actually means
01:37 — Mendoza's rough patch: the pick-six and his honest breakdown of it
03:34 — Kubiak's real plan: why he let Mendoza take his lumps
05:00 — Scott's take: Kubiak isn't undecided, he's strategic — Cousins still the heavy favorite
07:03 — Three things to watch this week: practice reps, silence from the building, and next week's finale vs. SF
09:12 — Aidan O'Connell quietly wins the game and why that matters
10:49 — Defense: don't overreact, that was Houston's starters
12:06 — Depth players stepping up (Booker, Sloan, Lafayette pick)
12:38 — Malik Benson's rookie night — flashes and drops
14:52 — Big picture: offense outgained Houston but the game was sloppy
17:00 — Penalties and discipline — Kubiak's clear message
19:00 — Bottom line heading into the 49ers finale
20:08 — Wrap-up and radio return Sept. 12

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Raider Nation, we asked for honest feedback all camp — well, we got it on Tuesday. Scott Gulbransen breaks down everything that came out of the Raiders' joint practices against the Houston Texans, starting with the offensive line getting worked by a legitimately talented Texans front. Protection breakdowns, a run game that never got going, and what it all means heading into tonight's preseason game.

Then the real story of the week: Fernando Mendoza taking extensive reps with the first team, including multiple pick-sixes by both QBs, and how he handled it afterward. Scott explains why a rough day against a real NFL defense isn't a red flag — it's tuition — and lays out the difference between Kirk Cousins as the floor and Mendoza as the ceiling at quarterback.

Also on deck: Klint Kubiak's measured response to Tuesday's practice, Brock Bowers returning to the field, the Powers-Johnson injury and what it means for Caleb Rogers' shot at right guard, the secondary competition with Darren Porter making noise, and a preview of what to watch for tonight as the Raiders take on the Texans in preseason game two.

Call in with your take at 702-907-8690, or send video to mail@silverandblacktoday.com. Catch Silver and Black Today live on the radio starting Week 1 on 101.5 KDON FM, Saturdays at 5 PM, and don't forget to subscribe on YouTube and wherever you get your audio.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro and welcome to Silver and Black Today
00:52 Setting the table: joint practices with the Texans
03:53 Headline: honest feedback from Tuesday's practice
04:28 Offensive line struggles against the Texans front
05:47 Run game fails to get established
06:00 Pushing back on the panic button crowd
08:00 Klint Kubiak's measured response
09:22 The big question: how worried should Raider Nation be
10:49 Kirk Cousins gets real reps, veteran poise under pressure
12:02 The Fernando Mendoza story: extensive first-team reps
13:01 Pick sixes and Mendoza's honest reaction
14:19 Why taking responsibility is a good sign
17:00 What outside observers and national media saw
19:01 Cousins as the floor, Mendoza building the ceiling
19:57 Roster board: JPJ injury and the interior o-line
20:38 Caleb Rogers' opportunity at right guard
21:47 Brock Bowers is back
22:38 Secondary competition and Darien Porter
25:16 Individual flashes and joint practice value
28:10 Tonight's preseason game 2 preview vs. Texans
30:23 Watching Ashton Jeanty and Malik Benson tonight
31:16 Defensive keys to watch tonight
32:42 Call-in and video submission info
33:09 Radio show details: 101.5 KDON, Saturdays at 5 PM
34:18 Sign-off and where to follow the show

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Fernando Mendoza got his first live NFL action Thursday against Arizona — and the film tells a real story. On this episode of Silver and Black Today, Scott Gulbransen breaks down Mendoza's uneven-but-promising preseason debut, his touchdown pass to Jack Bech, and why his growing chemistry with rookie receiver Malik Benson might be the storyline that matters most heading into the season.

Plus: Kirk Cousins locks down every first-team rep for a third straight practice, Brendan Jackson lands on IR after his Arizona injury, and the Raiders respond by signing veteran defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi. Scott also digs into Jermod McCoy's rough return from a 20-month injury layoff, Max Crosby's dominant week of practice, the still-unsettled right guard battle between Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers, and a shuffling secondary as the Raiders prep for their joint practice and preseason game against the Houston Texans.

Call in with your take at 702-907-8869 or email mail@silverandblacktoday.com — you might end up on the show. Silver and Black Today is back on the radio in Las Vegas on Fridays at 5 pm on 101.5 KDAWN, starting Week 1, with the show posting to this feed Sunday mornings.

Chapters

0:00 Intro – Mendoza's first live NFL action
1:29 Recapping the 27-14 loss to Arizona
2:12 Fernando Mendoza's debut breakdown
4:04 Kirk Cousins' opening drive and QB1 clarity
4:52 Jeremiah McCoy's rough return at cornerback
6:07 Mike Washington Jr.'s memorable NFL debut
7:27 Roster moves: Jackson to IR, Fatukasi signed
11:28 Sunday practice notes and the jersey swap
13:57 Max Crosby dominates one-on-ones
14:44 Right guard battle: Powers-Johnson vs. Rogers
16:02 Camp absences: Bowers, Hemingway, Runyan
18:29 Inside the QB room: Cousins vs. Mendoza
20:48 The Mendoza-Benson connection
22:18 Mendoza's correctable rookie mistakes
26:52 Defensive back room shakeup
28:46 Rookie safety Trey Dan Stokes rising
32:03 Houston trip and schedule preview
33:44 Why Houston is the real test

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Bonus crossover episode. Scott Gulbransen from Silver and Black Today hops on Raiders Fan Radio with Murf for an extended conversation on the Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza's rookie preseason performance, why the defense's rough debut under Rob Leonard isn't cause for panic, and why Scott thinks Mark Davis finally deserves credit for building a real football operation around John Spytek, Tom Brady and Clint Kubiak. They also get into what "success" actually looks like for this rebuilding season, the Cousins-vs-Mendoza QB question, and close with a fast-paced "who's the better guitarist" game.

This episode is part of the BLEAV Network. Catch Silver and Black Today and Raiders Fan Radio for more Raiders coverage all season.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro and catching up
00:59 Why this season feels different already
02:19 Fernando Mendoza excitement
03:00 Mendoza owning his mistakes — fair or not?
06:39 Defending Max Crosby
08:03 Raider Nation's "big tent" culture
09:34 Defense's rough debut vs. Gardner Minshew
12:35 Have the Raiders finally figured it out?
16:47 Building toward a "true north"
21:01 Giving Mark Davis his flowers
26:00 Defining a successful 2025 season
30:09 Cousins vs. Mendoza at quarterback
31:47 Quick-fire: greatest guitarists of all time
34:03 Sign-off and Raiders Fan Radio info

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