The Seahawks head into Week 10 with a chance to leave Las Vegas on a high note before their annual bye, and the matchup sets up with a clear edge on one side of the ball. Seattle will face Fernando Mendoza for the first time in his NFL career, with the rookie stepping into the starting role after the Raiders traded Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
That change at quarterback is the biggest variable in the game, but it also comes with obvious risk for Las Vegas. Mendoza’s first start could be a rough one against a Seattle defense that has been the league’s best, allowing just 244.2 yards per game. If the Seahawks control the line of scrimmage and force mistakes, the Raiders may struggle to do much more than chip in a field goal or two.
Seattle’s recent defensive form only adds to that outlook. The Seahawks have held opponents to a single field goal in two of their last three games, and another low-scoring night for Las Vegas would fit right into a Seattle blowout win.
Still, the Raiders do have one card to play. Head coach Klint Kubiak spent last season as Seattle’s offensive coordinator, which means he knows the defense from the inside out. That familiarity could help Las Vegas build a plan with some real bite, and it gives the Raiders at least a path to an upset if the Seahawks offense, with backup quarterback Drew Lock leading the way, doesn’t produce enough points.
Even with that wrinkle, the matchup leans heavily toward Seattle. The Raiders’ rookie quarterback and league-worst run defense are a tough combination against a Seahawks team that wants to run the ball and pressure the quarterback. Those strengths and weaknesses line up cleanly for Seattle, and the likeliest outcome is a convincing Seahawks victory.
Kickoff is set for Sunday at 1:05 pm PT at Allegiant Stadium. The game will air on CBS and be available to stream on the Paramount Plus app.
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Seahawks Finally Got An Injury Sign Fans Needed To See
The latest injury report offered the kind of small but meaningful progress Seahawks fans have been waiting for, with Charles Cross back on the field in a limited capacity after missing time because of an ankle injury. It does not mean a return is imminent, but it does suggest the left tackle is moving in the right direction as Seattle comes out of the bye week and starts sorting out who will be available for the next stretch.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba also returned as a full participant after resting previously, and A.J. Barner was cleared off the report altogether, giving the Seahawks a cleaner look on offense than they had recently. There are still several names on the list in limited or non-participating status for injury or personal reasons, so the picture is far from complete, but the encouraging sign around Cross is the one that matters most for a team that has been waiting on stability up front. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Offense Is Pushing Mike Macdonald Toward A Tough Decision
Seattles offense has hit a rough patch at exactly the wrong time, with the scoring average sliding over recent games as injuries and general dysfunction have taken a toll. For a team still trying to position itself for a playoff run, the issues are piling up in familiar places: quarterback health, an offensive line that has struggled to stay cohesive, and a play-calling operation that has not found enough rhythm to steady things.
Mike Macdonald now has to weigh whether a change under center could help spark the unit, even as the broader problems around it remain very real. The Seahawks do not need a cosmetic fix so much as a workable answer, and the next stretch will say plenty about whether the staff can settle on one before the seasons margin for error gets any thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Finally Addressed Their Biggest Problem But A New Concern Emerged
Seattle finally made the move that had been hanging over its season, landing offensive lineman Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts in a deal that sent a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick the other way before the NFL trade deadline. The addition was meant to give the Seahawks the kind of interior help they had been searching for, and the team wasted little time adjusting by moving Grey Zabel to right guard so Nelson could settle in at left guard.
Nelson made his debut in Week 8, but the early returns have been interrupted by a knee injury that is expected to keep him out for at least two games. So while the Seahawks still view the trade as an upgrade up front, the bigger question now is how long they will have to wait to see the line they envisioned when they made the deal. [Read more 🡒]