Fernando Mendoza finds the end zone on a first NFL TD pass to Jack Bech in Raiders’ preseason opener

Fernando Mendoza capped his first NFL scoring drive with a touchdown pass in the Raiders’ preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, completing a six-yard throw to Jack Bech for what was reported as his first touchdown pass in the NFL. The score was Mendoza’s first major milestone as a professional quarterback, a moment that typically carries extra weight in the early stretch of camp and preseason work.

The touchdown also served as a clear snapshot of how Mendoza is being utilized in the exhibition setting, with the Raiders’ offense turning to him in a situation where finishing the drive matters. Preseason games are not measured by season standings, but they do function as auditions for roles, timing, and trust between a passer and his targets, and that connection with Bech landed early enough to be memorable.

For Bech, the play marked a direct payoff on a route that turned into a scoring chance. Wideouts and tight ends often build their case during early reps with limited series, and a short touchdown catch can stand out because it shows both execution and chemistry in condensed timing windows.

Beyond the single play, Mendoza’s first NFL touchdown pass comes at a point when every preseason snapshot is likely to influence how a team staff thinks about quarterback depth and play-calling variety. A completion that results in a score can shape the next set of reps, especially when the coaching staff is trying to evaluate decision-making under real game speed rather than practice tempo.

The NFL context is also important: preseason opponents and game plans are fluid, and production can be affected by personnel rotations on both sides. Even so, a six-yard connection is the kind of detail that suggests the offense got the ball close enough to the red zone and then converted with the quarterback and receiver on the same page.

As Las Vegas moves forward through its preseason slate, the next question is whether Mendoza can build on this type of red-zone efficiency with more sustained drives, not just one highlight play. For Bech, the immediate follow-up will be whether he continues to draw looks in similar packages and whether the touchdown connection translates into additional targets.

At this stage, the touchdown pass is best viewed as a positive checkpoint rather than a definitive indicator of a regular-season role. Still, for Mendoza, it is an early-career milestone, and for the Raiders, it is evidence that their quarterback plan in the exhibition opener produced a scoring outcome.