The Seahawks head into Week 10 with a 5-4 record, but the margin for error is shrinking fast. They’re still chasing the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West and, for now, sitting outside the NFC wild-card picture.
The encouraging part is that they’re favored to get back on track against the Las Vegas Raiders. The catch is that they’ll have to do it without Sam Darnold, who remains sidelined by injury.
That puts even more pressure on a Seattle offense that has already slipped into rough territory. Without Darnold, the Seahawks are now 26th in EPA per play and 28th in success rate. That’s not the profile of a unit built to win shootouts, especially on the road.
The matchup also points toward a lower-scoring game than some might expect. In the Road to 272 Bets, the case was made for the UNDER in this interconference game, even with the Raiders owning the NFL’s worst defense.
Las Vegas ranks last in both EPA per play and success rate, which is a major warning sign. Still, the thought here is that Seahawks games with totals in the 40s may be worth leaning UNDER for the foreseeable future.
On the other side, Kirk Cousins has leaned into his gun-slinging style this season. He’s already piled up 2,340 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, but he’s also thrown eight interceptions.
With the Raiders struggling to run the ball, their offense may come down to how well Cousins can throw it on Sunday. That’s a tough assignment against a Seattle defense that has been one of the league’s best.
Despite the early-season schedule, Seattle’s defense has allowed just 4.1 yards per play, the lowest mark in the NFL by 0.6. That kind of edge has kept the Seahawks in games even as the offense has stumbled, and it’s a big reason they’re still positioned as favorites in Week 10.
In Other News...
Raiders-49ers Game Turned Ugly In A Way Fans Hate
What should have been a routine preseason-style afternoon between the Raiders and 49ers at Levis Stadium instead drew attention for all the wrong reasons, with fan violence breaking out both inside and outside the venue. The scene forced Santa Clara police into a heavy response as they worked to restore order around the stadium and keep the situation from escalating further.
Police are still sorting through what happened in several separate confrontations, and they have urged witnesses to come forward as part of the investigation. For a rivalry game that already carries plenty of edge, the ugly scenes left officials focused less on the football and more on accountability, with authorities making clear they intend to pursue criminal conduct wherever it is identified. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Ground Game Just Hit An Ugly New Low
The Raiders running game has been stuck in the mud for a while, but Sundays loss to the 49ers offered another grim snapshot of just how far off track it has become. Ashton Jeanty led the backfield in rushing with 25 yards on six carries, while Mike Washington managed negative three yards on six attempts, leaving the offense with little push between the tackles and even less room to breathe.
Jeanty also was heavily involved as a receiver, but the production never followed the touches in a game that underscored the lack of efficiency across the board. For a team already struggling to find any rhythm on the ground, the bigger concern is that the season-long numbers keep sliding in the wrong direction, and there is no easy fix in sight. [Read more 🡒]
Tom Brady's Fox Return Creates An Awkward Raiders Question
Tom Brady is back in Foxs NFL booth, and his return has already revived one of the more unusual side stories around the Raiders. As a part-owner in Las Vegas, Brady brings a different kind of baggage than the typical analyst, which is why his schedule has been watched closely ever since he rejoined the networks game coverage. So far, though, he has not been assigned to call a Raiders game, leaving the obvious question hanging over his broadcasting comeback.
The issue is less about Bradys comfort on camera than the awkward overlap between his new role and his team stake. Fox can work around plenty of broadcast quirks, but a Raiders assignment would invite scrutiny in a way most games would not. Brady has already shown he can still lean into the lighter side of NFL banter, recently making a playful remark about the Patriots current quarterback, but the bigger question is whether the network and league will ever want him in a booth for a game involving Las Vegas. [Read more 🡒]