The Seattle Seahawks have just been thrown a bit of a curveball as they prepare for the Las Vegas Raiders this week. Seattle will no longer have to gameplan against the veteran Kirk Cousins, as he was just traded to the quarterback-desperate Minnesota Vikings. Cousins is now returning to the team where he had easily the most success of his professional career.

Now the Raiders will turn to rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was Las Vegas' No. 1 pick during the 2026 NFL draft. Mendoza was picked to be the Raiders' franchise quaterback, and his era will officially begin on Sunday. Tough sledding for the former Indiana Hoosier, as he will have to face the Seahawks' Dark Side defense and the Denver Broncos in his first two starts.

Welcome to the bigs, kid.

Although the Seahawks will surely be favored against a Raiders team that has gone 1-5 since their 3-0 start, no one should be quick to dismiss them. Head coach Klint Kubiak will surely be working hard to devise a gameplan that puts Mendoza in the best possible situation, and there is no one else in the NFL who has as intimiate a knowledge as he does when it comes to attacking the Dark Side defense. Don't be surprised if Mendoza and Kubiak put forth a decent challenge for the Seahawks, especially since Seattle will be working with little-to-no film on him aside from moments in the preseason and his college tape from last year.

Still, Mike Macdonald's defense is infamously complex and quite the imposing threat for a young quarterback to face. The Seahawks are in dire need of a win since their margin for error is all but evaporated. Seattle has to keep within striking distance of the 49ers, who are already on the verge of running away with the NFC West. Not to mention finding a way back into the playoff picture with all four NFC North teams having at least six wins.