The Seahawks got a break after the trade deadline, but that doesn’t make Sunday any easier. Instead of drawing up a plan for Kirk Cousins and the Raiders’ No. 8-ranked offense, Seattle now has to prepare for Fernando Mendoza, a rookie making his first career start.
That changes the tone of the matchup, but it doesn’t simplify it. Klint Kubiak, the former Seahawks offensive coordinator, may know a few tricks to use against his old boss. Mike Macdonald, though, knows Kubiak’s tendencies too, and the Seahawks are still staring at a game that will be decided by more than just the quarterback spot.
The first place Seattle has to win is on the ground. The Seahawks are averaging 110.8 rushing yards per game, which puts them 18th in the league, and they’re walking into a matchup with a Raiders defense that has been gashed for 151.2 rushing yards per game. With Sam Darnold out, the path is pretty obvious: Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet need to carry the load.
That ground game matters even more because the Seahawks are also dealing with Maxx Crosby. He hasn’t been as loud this season as he has in years past, but even a quieter Crosby is still a problem. Seattle will be without Charles Cross and Quenton Nelson, which leaves the left side of the line exposed and could force the Seahawks into more 12 and 13 personnel than usual.
The other side of the ball brings its own headache in Brock Bowers. The Raiders don’t have much else to lean on in the passing game, but Bowers is the kind of weapon who changes the math all by himself.
He leads all tight ends in receiving yards with 658, is averaging 94.0 receiving yards per game, and is tied for the lead with six touchdowns. With Mendoza taking his first snaps, Bowers figures to be the safety valve, which makes him the obvious centerpiece of Seattle’s defensive plan.
Seattle also has to deal with the Raiders’ run game, or lack of one. Las Vegas ranks 31st with just 71.3 rushing yards per game, and Ashton Jeanty has not looked like the game-wrecking back some expected. Klint Kubiak will try to use the run to ease the pressure on Mendoza, but that’s a much tougher ask against the Seahawks’ stout front seven.
And then there’s Hezekiah Masses, who has already carved out a reputation as a ballhawk. In nine appearances, including four starts, he has three interceptions and seven passes defended. The Seahawks have had issues protecting the football this season, and while Drew Lock has been better than Sam Darnold in that area, he still has to be aware of No. 35 every time he drops back.
In Other News...
Seahawks Head Into Raiders Game With A Bigger Injury Problem Than Expected
The Seahawks are heading into their Week 10 matchup with the Raiders carrying a much heavier injury load than they likely expected, and the timing is less than ideal with the bye week looming right after. Seattle will be without defensive lineman Leonard Williams, left tackle Charles Cross, quarterback Sam Darnold and left guard Quenton Nelson, a stretch of absences that puts pressure on both fronts of the roster as the team tries to stay afloat at 5-5.
There is a little better news on the way back, though, with edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed expected to return after missing previous games. Even so, the Seahawks are walking into a game that now looks less like a routine November test and more like a survival exercise, with the roster thinned out just enough to make every snap against Las Vegas feel a little more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Face Travel Concern Before Raiders Game As FAA Chaos Lingers
The Seahawks are heading into a travel week with a little more uncertainty than usual after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop Friday because of communication issues affecting multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers. The stop was lifted by about 5:15 p.m. PT, but the ripple effects were immediate, with thousands of flight cancellations and delays expected to keep snaring travelers well into the weekend.
Seattle is scheduled to take its charter flight to Las Vegas on Saturday for Sundays game against the Raiders, and coach Mike Macdonald said the team will adjust plans as needed. For a club trying to keep its routine intact on the road, the timing of the FAA disruption adds one more variable to a trip that already comes with enough football pressure on its own. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks May Have Found Their Answer For A Growing Defensive Problem
Nick Emmanwori has become one of the more interesting pieces in Mike Macdonalds defense, and the Seahawks have leaned on the second-year safety in exactly the kind of assignments that can tell you a lot about a players future. He has been used in a variety of roles, but his work in coverage against top tight ends has stood out, including a strong showing against Arizonas Trey McBride, where he kept receptions out of his area.
That usage is no accident, especially with another difficult matchup looming against Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers. Emmanworis blend of size, range and versatility has already drawn comparisons to Baltimores Kyle Hamilton, and Seattle appears to be testing whether he can help solve a growing problem in the middle of the field while also expanding what this defense can do around him. [Read more 🡒]