The Seattle Seahawks may have caught a big break after the trade deadline. Instead of preparing for Kirk Cousins and the Las Vegas Raiders' No. 8-ranked offense, they'll have to gameplan for a rookie making his first career start.
Former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak might have a couple of secrets in store to go against his former boss. That said, Mike Macdonald also knows his tendencies, and he must be licking his chops at the thought of facing a first-time signal-caller.
That said, this game goes well beyond the quarterback, and the Seahawks must also make sure to disrupt the entire ecosystem. With that in mind, let's take a look at the five questions that will define this matchup.
5 big questions the Seattle Seahawks must answer to beat the Raiders in Week 10
Can they finally establish the run?
The Seahawks average 110.8 rushing yards per game, 'good' for 18th in the league. Now, they'll go against the Raiders' bottom-feeding rush defense, which gives up 151.2 rushing yards per game. With Sam Darnold set to miss this game, the formula to hurt them on offense seems pretty clear here, with Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet doing most of the heavy lifting.
How to slow Brock Bowers down?
The Raiders don't have that much talent in the passing game, but Brock Bowers is a quarterback-proof, All-World type of talent. He leads all tight ends in receiving yards (658), receiving yards per game (94.0), and is tied for the most touchdowns (6). He'll be Fernando Mendoza's escape valve, so he should also be the focal point of the defensive gameplan.
Can they shut down Ashton Jeanty?
The Raiders' explosive offense has relied solely on the passing game. They rank 31st with just 71.3 rushing yards per game, and Ashton Jeanty is looking closer to a bust than to the game-wrecking running back some thought he'd be. Kubiak will try to take pressure off Mendoza by establishing the running game, but that will be easier said than done against the Seahawks' stout front seven.
How to keep Maxx Crosby in check?
Maxx Crosby has had a somewhat quiet season by his standards, but even the worst version of Maxx Crosby is significantly better than the average defensive end. The Seahawks will be without Charles Cross and Quenton Nelson in this one, so that left side of the line might be particularly vulnerable to pressure, and they might have to rely on 12 and 13 personnel more than they usually do.
When to challenge Hezekiah Masses?
Hezekiah Masses hasn't been in the league for long, but he's already making a name for himself as a true ballhawk. He's got three interceptions and seven passes defended in nine appearances (four starts). The Seahawks have struggled with ball security this season, and while Drew Lock has done better than Sam Darnold in that regard, he should keep an eye on No. 35 at all times.
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