Fernando Mendoza’s NFL career as a starter begins Sunday against the reigning Super Bowl champions. And the coach calling his plays knows that opponent better than anyone.
The Las Vegas Raiders (4-5) host the Seattle Seahawks (5-4) on Sunday afternoon, five days after Mendoza was named the starter following the Kirk Cousins trade. Raiders coach Klint Kubiak spent last season as Seattle’s offensive coordinator, a run that ended with the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl in February, according to Fox News.
Seahawks vs. Raiders: kickoff time, TV and odds
- When: Sunday, Nov. 15, 4:05 p.m. ET
- Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
- TV: CBS
- Line: Seahawks -3.5, total 43.5 (ESPN)
ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Seattle a 60% chance to win. For every Week 10 kickoff, see our Week 10 schedule and TV guide.
Why the Raiders turned to Mendoza now
Las Vegas traded Cousins to Minnesota on Tuesday, and general manager John Spytek named the No. 1 overall pick the starter the same day. Spytek said Mendoza “passed every test,” ESPN reported.
Kubiak said Mendoza exceeded the team’s expectations in practice, pointing to better accuracy, command of the offense and work in the two-minute drill, according to ESPN. The plan all along was to start the season with Cousins as a bridge and wait until Mendoza was ready.
Spytek also said the move does not mean the Raiders are giving up on the playoffs, Yardbarker reported. We covered the decision in our Mendoza story and the full trade in our inside look at the Cousins deal.
Fans responded fast. The announcement led to a spike in ticket sales and prices on the secondary market, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
What Mendoza brings
Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy at Indiana and led the Hoosiers to their first national championship, per Yardbarker. His only NFL action so far came late in a Week 5 loss to New England, when he completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards, ABC7 reported.
He will lean on tight end Brock Bowers. The receiver room is thin, with Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker and Jack Bech as the top options, Pro Football Rumors noted.
The test: Seattle’s defense
Mendoza could not have drawn a tougher first opponent on paper. The Seahawks rank first in the NFL in total defense, according to Bleacher Report.
It is also the defense Kubiak’s offense practiced against all of last season. How much that inside knowledge helps a rookie quarterback on Sunday is one of the more interesting subplots of Week 10.
Seattle’s quarterback situation
The Seahawks have their own quarterback questions. Sam Darnold (quad, ribs) is out again, and Drew Lock will start, coach Mike Macdonald said, per ESPN. Jalen Milroe is the backup.
Lock has done his job so far. He is 2-0 as a starter this season with five touchdown passes and no interceptions, AOL reported. Seattle has its bye in Week 11, which gives Darnold extra time to heal. Read more in our Seahawks QB story.
What comes next for Mendoza
The schedule does not get easier. After Seattle, the Raiders travel to Denver in Week 11 to face another strong defense, WLKY noted.
For every other team with a new starter this week, see our Week 10 QB changes. Cousins makes his own debut Sunday in Green Bay, previewed in our Vikings vs. Packers story.
Sources: ESPN (2, 3), Fox News, Yardbarker, Las Vegas Review-Journal, ABC7, Pro Football Rumors, Bleacher Report, AOL, WLKY
Join the conversation