The Seahawks have a chance to come out of Week 10 looking like a team that figured something out.
After a quieter showing against the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle gets a matchup that lines up in all the right ways: a Raiders defense that has been vulnerable, especially against the run, and a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start against one of the league’s stingiest defenses. That combination gives the Seahawks a real opening to control the game on both sides of the ball.
One of the biggest swing factors could be Jadarian Price. The rookie first-round pick has had a tough first season and still hasn’t scored his first NFL touchdown, but this feels like the kind of spot where that changes.
Las Vegas has had a hard time slowing down opposing running backs, and with Zach Charbonnet back in the backfield, Seattle has enough options to keep attacking on the ground. Price is expected to make the most of those chances and finally get into the end zone.
The run game should be there for Seattle, but that doesn’t mean the passing attack has to take a back seat. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming off a modest line against Arizona - seven catches for 51 yards and no touchdown - which is a step below the standard he’s set. Against a Raiders defense that has had trouble holding up, he’s projected to bounce right back with a much bigger day and get back to stressing secondaries.
Seattle’s ground game could be the engine that drives everything. Las Vegas is allowing a league-leading 151.2 rushing yards per game, and the Seahawks average 110 on the ground.
They haven’t consistently gotten the rushing attack rolling this season, but this matchup looks tailor-made for a breakout. With Price and Charbonnet both available, Seattle has the personnel to keep leaning on the Raiders until the defense breaks.
A finish near 200 rushing yards is in play, and if the offense hits its stride, the Seahawks could pile up more than 450 total yards.
On the other side, Fernando Mendoza is walking into a rough first assignment.
The rookie is taking over after a major change at quarterback, with Kirk Cousins back with the Minnesota Vikings. Mendoza does have talented tight ends to lean on, but the Raiders’ wide receiver group is thin, and Seattle’s defense has been one of the toughest units in the league. If the Seahawks’ pass rush can get home consistently, the rookie’s afternoon could get uncomfortable fast.
A touchdown pass from Mendoza would not be a shock, but the expectation is that Las Vegas struggles to move the ball for most of the game. The prediction here is that he finishes with fewer than 175 passing yards and completes less than 65% of his throws. For a first NFL start, that would be a hard lesson - and Seattle’s defense is set up to make it one.
In Other News...
Raiders Rookies Are Suddenly Creating A Real Roster Debate
The Raiders rookie class has started to shape the conversation around the back end of the roster, and not just because of the usual growing pains. In the wake of a loss to the 49ers and a win over the Jets, the first-year group has produced a mix of encouraging flashes and uneven production, with some young players drawing strong marks for how they handled their opportunities while others struggled to make the same kind of case.
Treydan Stukes and Jermod McCoy stood out on the positive side of the ledger, giving Las Vegas something to think about as it sorts out who deserves more run down the stretch. On the other end, Mike Washington Jr. and Zeke Masses did not help their standing, and with a few rookies either inactive or on injured reserve, the Raiders are left weighing not just who has played well, but who is actually forcing the issue when the team starts making tougher decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Fernando Mendoza Enters A New Raiders Role With Huge Expectations
Fernando Mendoza has stepped into a new role for the Raiders with the kind of attention that comes with being handed the offense in-season. After Kirk Cousins was moved out of the picture, Mendoza took over as Las Vegas starting quarterback and has already gone through his first full practice in the job, a key early test as he settles into the routine that now comes with leading the huddle.
Mendoza has also made clear he appreciated the time he spent alongside Cousins, crediting the veteran for his support during their overlap. Now the focus shifts quickly to game week and a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, where the Raiders will get their first real look at how Mendoza handles the pressure and pace of being the guy. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Put Fernando Mendoza In A Spot That Will Test Everything
The Raiders are handing Fernando Mendoza his first NFL start in a spot that arrives with immediate pressure attached. After sending Kirk Cousins to Minnesota ahead of the trade deadline, Las Vegas is turning to the rookie and asking him to step into the job without changing the identity of the offense, even as the challenge gets significantly steeper.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said the Raiders will stick with their offensive approach with Mendoza under center, which says plenty about how they want to handle the transition. It also sets up a revealing first test for the rookie, because the team is not easing him in with a scaled-back plan, and the matchup waiting for him should tell a lot about how ready he is for the speed and demands of the league. [Read more 🡒]