The Las Vegas Raiders enter their Week 10 matchup Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks with rookie Fernando Mendoza making his first NFL start at quarterback. The change comes after the team traded veteran Kirk Cousins to Minnesota, leaving Mendoza to take the reins of the offense at Allegiant Stadium.
Coach Klint Kubiak addressed the media at the team's Henderson headquarters this week, expressing confidence in the rookie. Kubiak indicated he plans to utilize the entire playbook for Mendoza's debut, a move viewed positively as the Seahawks have limited film on the Raiders' offense with the new starter under center.
The quarterback transition has generated significant buzz, with secondary ticket market prices jumping for Sunday's game. While players lamented Cousins' departure, they expressed excitement about the organization's future with Mendoza, who acknowledged his mentor before taking over first-team reps at practice.
Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard and his unit are searching for solutions against Seattle, bolstered by a vote of confidence from Kubiak. The Seahawks may lack film on Mendoza, but they are familiar with Kubiak from his previous tenure as offensive coordinator.
The trade drew reaction from around the league, including praise from Pro Football Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski. Despite the quarterback change, most power rankings — published before the Cousins deal — did not show the Raiders sliding significantly.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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