The Seahawks head into Week 10 with a chance to keep their momentum rolling, and the matchup with the Raiders in Las Vegas sets up a few clear pressure points. Seattle is trying to climb in the NFC playoff race, and a win at Allegiant Stadium would matter a lot in that chase.
One of the biggest edges in this game sits on the ground. The Raiders are giving up 151.2 rushing yards per game, the worst mark in the NFL, and their defense is also allowing 29.8 points per game, which is the league’s worst scoring defense. That opens the door for Seattle to lean hard on its run game, especially with Jaderian Price and Zach Charbonnet both back in the mix after injuries.
Those two have only played two games since returning, and the rhythm wasn’t there in the first one against the Chicago Bears because Seattle spent most of that game trailing. The ground game showed more life against the Arizona Cardinals, though, when the Seahawks ran for 120 yards.
Seattle has spent the season trying to build its identity around the run, and now it finally has the personnel to push that approach. Against a defense that has struggled this badly against the run, the Seahawks should be able to attack the line of scrimmage and maybe even pop a long run or two.
A 200-yard day on the ground is not out of the question.
The other big storyline is on defense, where Seattle gets a shot at No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza in his first career NFL start. The Seahawks have been locked in lately, holding opponents to just a single field goal in each of their last two wins, including one against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
That said, this isn’t a setup where Seattle can expect perfection. Raiders head coach Clint Kubiak was Seattle’s offensive coordinator last season, so he knows the Seahawks well and should have a specific plan ready, especially on offense. That familiarity could help Las Vegas put together some scoring chances, and Mendoza should find the end zone at some point, even if it comes late when the game is already slipping away.
At quarterback, Drew Lock doesn’t need to be spectacular for Seattle to win. He just needs to keep the offense steady and protect the ball.
That’s the kind of game he’s built for: not flashy, not dominant, but solid enough to let the defense carry the load. With Seattle’s defense playing the way it has, that may be all the Seahawks need.
If Lock moves to 3-0 as a starter, the conversation around the quarterback spot will get louder during the bye week. Sam Darnold has had trouble avoiding turnovers this season, and while the Seahawks are expected to return to Darnold once he’s healthy - possibly as soon as Week 12 against the Niners - Lock’s performance could make the decision a little less straightforward.
In Other News...
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 🡒]