“We know what queremos hacer y how queremos hacer,” said defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, as the Las Vegas Raiders prepare for a matchup against a stout Seattle defense.
The Las Vegas offense must find answers against a Seattle unit that surrenders an average of just 18 points per game. Tight end Brock Bowers enters the contest as the most productive at his position in the NFL for the 2026 season, having accumulated 658 yards and six touchdowns through nine games.
Las Vegas boasts an offensive line that has yielded only 11 sacks across nine contests. The unit stands as the sole group in the NFL that has not allowed a sack when facing a rush of five or more defenders, a statistical cushion that figures to support Fernando Mendoza.
The defensive side for Las Vegas aims to rebound after conceding 38 points to San Francisco. Despite recent struggles, the Silver and Black have forced 14 turnovers, good for the fourth-highest mark in the league, while pacing the NFL with 12 forced fumbles.
A primary assignment for the Raiders involves slowing down wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He has totaled 1,036 receiving yards and nine touchdowns through nine appearances, making him the lone player in the league to eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving plateau this season.
Defensive coordinator Leonard acknowledged the need for cleaner execution moving forward. “Hay evidencia de que lo hemos conseguido, pero tenemos que hacerlo con mayor consistencia,” Leonard said.
The fixture also provides a reunion for assistant coach Kubiak against his former organization. “Estoy muy agradecido de poder verlos y saludarlos,” Kubiak said. “Después de eso, es momento de jugar.”
Seattle will play without several key contributors, as quarterback Sam Darnold, offensive linemen Charles Cross and Quenton Nelson, and defensive lineman Leonard Williams have all been ruled out.
For Las Vegas, offensive lineman Thomas Booker is listed as questionable with an ankle issue, and wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. carries a questionable tag due to a back injury.
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