The Seattle Seahawks defense will face Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza in Week 10, as the No. 1 overall pick prepares for his first regular-season start. The Raiders are beginning the Mendoza era after trading veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins shortly before the November 10 trade deadline.
With limited NFL footage of Mendoza to study, Seattle linebacker Patrick O’Connell said the defense is reviewing the rookie’s preseason appearances and regular-season action. The Seahawks are paying attention to his mechanics, cadence, and movements under center while continuing to study the Raiders’ offense.
“You kind of just got to go off who they are right now in their last, however many games,” O’Connell said. He added that Las Vegas is unlikely to completely overhaul its offense, though the team will put Mendoza in charge of it.
## Seattle Is Studying Klint Kubiak’s Raiders Offense
The Seahawks have some familiarity with Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, who served as Seattle’s offensive coordinator last season. O’Connell cautioned, however, that Kubiak’s current system is not identical to the one he ran in Seattle. The Raiders have different personnel, and Kubiak is adapting his approach to the players on his roster.
O’Connell said the Raiders are using different concepts and personnel groups, so Seattle is examining how Kubiak is tailoring the offense to his current team.
## Mendoza Could Face Unfamiliar Defensive Looks
Seattle Sports analyst Michael Bumpus pointed to Mendoza’s inexperience as a potential advantage for the Seahawks. He noted that the rookie may encounter defensive looks he has not faced before, while Seattle brings a highly regarded defense into the matchup.
Bumpus also observed that Seattle’s familiarity with Kubiak’s offense could help the defense anticipate how the Raiders might use Mendoza. He compared Mendoza with Cousins as quarterbacks, while noting that Mendoza is younger, more mobile, and capable of running.
