Cardinals Win Preseason
Arizona Cardinals Defeat Raiders 27-14 in Preseason Matchup as Rookies and Depth Impress
Key Points
Jeremiyah Love contributed as a receiver in addition to his rushing workload, recording three receptions for 14 yards alongside his 11 carries for 58 rushing yards.
Kirk Cousins helped pace the Raiders with a 10-play, 68-yard opening drive, completing 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards on that possession.
Fernando Mendoza’s NFL debut included a 10-of-16 passing line for 97 yards and a touchdown, with a 53-yard run by Mike Washington setting up the score.
Walter Nolen III was part of the rotation on the Cardinals’ line and registered a sack in the Vegas red zone late in the second quarter.
Marvin Harrison Jr. hauled in a 7-yard touchdown pass in the first half, contributing to the Cardinals’ early scoring drive.
The Arizona Cardinals beat the Las Vegas Raiders 27-14 at Allegiant Stadium on August 13, 2026, in their first preseason win of the year The Sporting Tribune. Rookie Jeremiyah Love earned his first start, rushing 11 times for 58 yards and a touchdown, while also catching three passes for 14 yards.
With starting quarterback Carson Beck sidelined by a rib injury, Gardner Minshew stepped in and was sharp — going 14-for-16 for 101 yards and two touchdowns AZ Central. The result gave first-year coordinator Mike LaFleur his first preseason victory, according to Revenge of the Birds.
Brissett and Harrison Jr. Spark the Opening Drive
Jacoby Brissett led the Cardinals' offense on their first possession, engineering a 63-yard drive that ended with a Marvin Harrison Jr. touchdown AZ Central. Harrison hauled in a 7-yard scoring pass, giving the Cardinals an early lead and showcasing the connection that will matter while Beck recovers.
Brissett's role is simple: hold things together until Beck is healthy. Thursday's drive showed he can do that. Minshew then took over and kept the offense moving, finishing with one of the cleanest stat lines of the preseason.
Raiders Open Strong but Defense Holds
Las Vegas did not go quietly early. Kirk Cousins ran a 10-play, 68-yard opening drive, completing 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards on that possession Yahoo Sports. The Cardinals' starting defense — already missing safety Budda Baker — gave up ground early and allowed 103 rushing yards in the game overall.
Despite those early struggles, the Cardinals' line made plays when it counted. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen III recorded a sack in the Vegas red zone late in the second quarter, helping keep the Raiders off the scoreboard at a key moment AZ Central.
Raiders Rookie Mendoza Makes His NFL Debut
For Las Vegas, the game belonged partly to rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He finished 10-for-16 for 97 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL action Yahoo Sports. A 53-yard run by Mike Washington set up that score and gave Raiders fans a glimpse of the team's young depth.
Mendoza got extended reps as Las Vegas used the game to evaluate its depth chart. The Raiders' preseason is as much about finding roster pieces as anything else, and Mendoza's debut gave the coaching staff real data to work with heading into final cuts.
Fehoko and Brooks Make Case for the 53-Man Roster
Beyond the starters, the Cardinals used Thursday's game to sort out the bottom of their roster. Receivers Fehoko and Jalen Brooks both turned in standout performances and are now considered candidates to make the final 53-man roster, according to AZ Central.
That kind of depth evaluation is the real point of late preseason games. The Cardinals got a win, but more importantly, they got answers about who belongs on the team. With Beck's injury timeline still unclear, Arizona needs its depth to be ready fast Revenge of the Birds.
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