The Las Vegas Raiders are preparing for a pivotal matchup against the Seattle Seahawks at Allegiant Stadium as they look to overcome persistent early-season struggles.
Following the trade of Kirk Cousins to Minnesota, the team has elevated Fernando Mendoza to the starting quarterback position, according to Yahoo Sports.
Despite the change at signal-caller, the organization remains focused on fixing fundamental issues regarding their inconsistent rushing attack and defensive tackling.
General manager John Spytek stated that the franchise is not throwing in the towel on the 2026 season despite holding a 4-5 record.
Coach Kubiak addressed the team’s ongoing challenges with the run game during a recent media session.
“Yeah, it’s a fair question, and those are things that we’re working on,” Kubiak said.
The Raiders’ rushing efforts have been led by Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr., though both have struggled to maintain high efficiency on the ground.
Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard is emphasizing the need for better execution and a faster start as the team prepares to face Seattle quarterback Drew Lock.
Leonard noted that the defense must prioritize physicality and ball pursuit to prevent big plays.
“We’ve got to execute better, especially to start the game,” Leonard said.
The Seahawks enter the contest with a formidable defense that allows only 244 yards per game, presenting a significant test for the Raiders offense.
Additionally, the Raiders must contain Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the league in several statistical categories.
With eight games remaining, the team maintains hope of entering the AFC wild card conversation if they can secure wins in upcoming matchups against Cleveland, Tennessee, Arizona and the Chargers.
Achieving this goal will require the offense to finish drives and the defense to provide consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Success for the Raiders will ultimately depend on playing more complimentary football across all three phases of the game.