Fernando Mendoza's Raiders Debut & Week 5 NFL Surprises

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From LatiNation Sports

Fernando Mendoza Watch Begins as the Raiders and NFC West Draw Attention

Fernando Mendoza received his first playing time for the Raiders this weekend and looked impressive. He started at Jesuit Prep in Miami before attending Columbus, with both all-boys Catholic schools featuring plenty of Cuban students. He then played at Indiana and won the national championship.

The Raiders plan to bring Mendoza along slowly, so LatiNation Sports will be keeping a close eye on his progress. Veteran starting quarterback Kirk Cousins is playing well, and the team is winning despite low expectations.

The Chargers have been one of the biggest disappointments. Although they were expected to perform better, Chargers fans have also been difficult to find in Los Angeles.

The Giants have been another surprise. They were expected to struggle and lost their starting quarterback, but they have a 3-1-1 record. Ties are rare in football, but they do happen.

The NFC West is considered the best division, led by the 49ers. Brock Purdy has gone from Mr. Irrelevant to a possible MVP candidate. The 49ers became a favorite childhood team after Joe Montana and San Francisco beat Miami in the Super Bowl.

The division will remain a major focus, especially in Los Angeles. The Rams are considered Super Bowl favorites and currently stand at 2-2.