Raiders receive clear answer about Fernando Mendozas future

LAS VEGAS — The Raiders wrapped up their preseason Thursday with an 18-12 loss to the 49ers.They finished the preseason with a 1-2 record and now set their sights on their season opener against the Dolphins on Sept.13.Here are some takeaways from a sluggish preseason finale:With Kirk Cousins opening the game and directing two field-goal drives before giving way to Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders got one final side-by-side look at the two quarterbacks ostensibly competing for the starting job.How genuine that competition ever was remains open to debate.

But until coach Klint Kubiak makes an official declaration, Mendoza technically remains in the running to start the season opener.Practically speaking, however, every logical sign points to Cousins.The Raiders brought in the veteran specifically to buy Mendoza time and to avoid the mistake so many teams have made by rushing a young quarterback onto the field before he is ready.Mendoza may be the future face of the franchise, but Cousins was signed to protect that future while stabilizing the present.If there were any lingering questions about the pecking order, Cousins may have answered them Thursday night.He was hardly spectacular.

In fact, it is worth noting that the Raiders’ first-team offense failed to reach the end zone on either of his two possessions against a defense made up largely of 49ers backups.That is not exactly the emphatic closing argument Cousins might have hoped to make.But he was steady, efficient and, most importantly, mistake-free.

Cousins was 8-of-11 passing for 51 yards, moved the Raiders into scoring position twice and avoided the kind of damaging play that can swing a game — and a quarterback competition.Mendoza’s night was considerably more uneven.For the second consecutive game, the rookie was intercepted, this time sailing a pass to Jalen Nailor over the middle.Nailor climbed to make the catch, but the ball glanced off his hands and into the arms of 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune...