The San Francisco 49ers closed out their 2026 NFL preseason with an 18-12 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night at Allegiant Stadium. The game featured no touchdowns, but San Francisco’s special teams and defense made the difference in a closely contested finale.
The biggest individual performance came from kicker Eddy Piñeiro, who was perfect on all six of his field-goal attempts. His accuracy proved decisive as the 49ers turned a late tie into a six-point victory.
Eddy Piñeiro delivers perfect performance
Piñeiro was the standout player for San Francisco, converting kicks from 24, 25, 48, 59, 51 and 54 yards.
His final two field goals came during the last 1:51 of the game. After the 49ers moved ahead 15-12 with a 51-yard kick, their defense forced Las Vegas to give the ball back. Piñeiro then added a 54-yarder to put the game out of reach.
The performance adds to the confidence surrounding the veteran kicker after his impressive 2025 campaign. He finished last season 28-for-29 on field-goal attempts, a 96.6% success rate.
49ers running backs show impressive depth
San Francisco’s running back room also provided plenty of encouragement heading into the regular season.
Khalil Herbert led the 49ers in rushing against Las Vegas, producing 40 yards on six touches. Rookie Kaelon Black averaged seven yards per carry and continued to show the combination of power and speed that made him an intriguing addition.
Jordan James contributed 35 rushing yards on eight attempts and also caught a pass out of the backfield. The performances highlight the depth San Francisco could have behind Christian McCaffrey.
With McCaffrey capable of contributing as both a runner and receiver, the 49ers have multiple options to distribute offensive snaps and potentially keep their star running back fresh over the course of the season.
Sincere McCormick, however, struggled to make the same impact. He finished with seven touches for only eight yards.
Fernando Mendoza has difficult preseason finale
For Las Vegas, rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza endured a challenging night.
The No. 1 overall pick completed only 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards. He was sacked twice and threw an interception after a pass deflected off the hands of his intended receiver.
Mendoza finished the three-game preseason with 25 completions on 40 attempts for 240 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, while being sacked four times.
Despite the difficult performance, the Raiders remain focused on his development. Kirk Cousins is expected to begin the regular season as Las Vegas’ starter, meaning Mendoza’s opportunities could become more limited once the regular season begins.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak acknowledged that rookie quarterbacks need more developmental time, while emphasizing that the coaching staff will continue working with Mendoza.
Raiders get strong outing from Matt Gay
While Mendoza struggled, Raiders kicker Matt Gay provided consistent production.
Gay made four of his five field-goal attempts, with his only miss coming from 54 yards. He also has a connection to San Francisco after briefly playing for the 49ers last season.
Kirk Cousins also saw action and completed 8 of 11 passes for 51 yards, with both of his drives ending in field goals.
Mike Washington Jr. was another positive for Las Vegas. With Ashton Jeanty sidelined by an undisclosed injury, Washington could have an important role early in the season. He rushed for 49 yards on eight carries and finished the preseason with 168 rushing yards at an impressive 7.3 yards per carry.
San Francisco’s backups get valuable experience
The 49ers used their backups throughout the game, giving players competing for roster spots one final opportunity to make an impression before the 53-man roster deadline.
Adrian Martinez completed 12 of 21 passes for 130 yards and did not throw a touchdown. His performance could be particularly important with Kurtis Rourke dealing with broken ribs.
KhaDarel Hodge also stood out with timely receptions and contributions on special teams.
Mac Jones, meanwhile, struggled against the Raiders’ starting defense. He completed just one of five passes for seven yards while San Francisco’s second-team offense managed only one first down across two drives.
Penalties remain a concern for the 49ers
Despite winning the game, San Francisco still has an area that needs attention before the regular season.
The 49ers committed nine penalties for 84 yards. While preseason games are often filled with backups and players fighting for roster spots, the number of penalties will be something Kyle Shanahan’s team wants to clean up.
San Francisco also suffered injuries to cornerback Ephesians Prysock and tight end Brayden Willis. Linebacker Jalen Graham was evaluated for a concussion but was cleared.
What comes next for the 49ers and Raiders?
The preseason finale marked the end of roster evaluations for both teams, with coaches now turning their attention toward final roster decisions and regular-season preparation.
The 49ers will open their regular season against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10 in Melbourne, Australia. San Francisco will enter that matchup with its key starters expected to be rested and ready, including Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and potentially George Kittle.
The Raiders begin their regular season at home against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13. With Cousins expected to lead the offense, Las Vegas will now focus on preparing its veteran quarterback while continuing Mendoza’s development.
The 18-12 result ultimately gave the 49ers a winning finish to the preseason. Piñeiro’s six field goals were the headline, but the game also offered valuable information about San Francisco’s running back depth and roster competition while exposing areas the Raiders and Mendoza still need to improve.
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